Calling all Miltonians planning a backyard transformation this summer.

HGTV Canada is casting a series that will explore how creative people can get with their outdoor spaces.

For example, the show could include people transforming sheds into yoga studios or home offices, or those building a chic tree house that appeals to both children and grown ups.

HGTV Canada will make a significant financial contribution to any family it chooses for the show.

To be considered, applicants must:

• Be ready to do their project in August/September

• Plan to spend at least $20,000

• Have not appeared on a reality TV show before

• Not be an ACTRA member

• Be available for three to five days of filming during the project

• Be fun and outgoing.

To apply for a potential spot on the series visit https://hgtvseries.castingcrane.com/.

Article Source: http://www.insidehalton.com/whatson-story/6728457-planning-a-backyard-transformation-hgtv-wants-to-hear-from-milton-homeowners/

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There are countless options out there when it comes to choosing a barbecue for your backyard oasis, and it pays to do your homework when shopping for one. But how do you separate one from another?

Well, first you should consider how you’ll be using your new barbecue. If you’re the type who loves to host backyard parties, you will likely want to consider a barbecue that has at least 1,000 square inches (0.65 square metres) of cooking space on the grill so you can flip many burgers at one time. This way, you won’t have guests going hungry waiting for the next batch of grilled goodies.

However, the grilling area is just one detail — the heating source is also a big consideration. You can go the more-popular propane route, which is generally efficient, affordable and clean. Gas grills are perfect for quickly preparing hot dogs, burgers and chicken breasts for the family or hungry guests. Meanwhile, the more-traditional charcoal barbecue has made a big comeback in recent years and is considered more of the grilling connoisseur’s tool of choice.

Charcoal BBQs take longer to heat up, and are generally more of a slow-cooking method of preparing food. This option may be better for someone who is cooking larger cuts of meat like a rack of ribs — you can also consider a rotisserie-style charcoal grill for pig roasts.

Charcoal units also tend to give off more smoke, which leads to more of that deep charcoal flavour in your meat, which can’t be beat with gas. However, keep in mind that more time and cleanup is required for charcoal outdoor cookers.

Also be wary of the construction of the barbecue if you want it to last for many grilling seasons. This means looking for cast iron, cast aluminum or stainless steel. Keep in mind that not all stainless steel units are made the same; there are different grades, so be sure to choose steel that is graded 304 or higher (magnets will stick to higher-quality stainless steel).

Experts also suggest that once you identify the size and type of barbecue you’re seeking, you should spend as much as you can afford. It will pay off with quality meals and smiles on the faces of family and friends.

Article Source: http://www.insidehalton.com/shopping-story/6717561-tips-for-choosing-the-perfect-bbq/

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“Council requested a more responsive, convenient by-law enforcement service for Oakville residents,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “This new model allows residents to access the services they require 24 hours a day. I commend staff for their work in developing an even more user-friendly enforcement service.”

Currently, Town of Oakville by-law enforcement services are only available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no after hours or weekend enforcement. Parking enforcement is the exception which is provided on a 24/7 basis. In addition, enforcement responsibilities fall to various town departments, which can make it challenging for residents to contact the right area of enforcement when they want to report a concern. The new service delivery model will make it faster and easier for residents to get in touch with enforcement staff 24/7 so issues can be addressed in a timely manner.

Oakville’s Municipal Enforcement Strategy was created based on recommendations identified from an internal audit in 2011 and direction from the 2015 Budget Committee for staff to review options for expanded by-law enforcement services. A thorough review of the town’s enforcement structure, predicted population growth, best practice scan of other municipal by-law enforcement models and feedback from various town departments also informed the strategy development.

Financial requirements to support the 24/7 centralized model will be presented to the Budget Committee this fall for approval before implementation begins in 2017. In the meantime, staff will be working to implement the progressive enforcement policy and responsibility matrix to clarify enforcement oversight among town departments.

To read the staff report, review the agenda from the March 29, 2016 Administrative Services Committee meeting on the Agendas & Minutes page at oakville.ca.

Shaw, G. (2016, April 05). Access to Oakville By-Law Officers to go 24/7 by 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2016, from http://oakvillenews.org/access-to-oakville-by-law-officers-to-go-247-by-2017/

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1. Work from the top down, inside to outside, to avoid getting what you just cleaned dirty again. 

2. Do one room, even one area of one room, at a time to avoid unfinished jobs. The satisfaction of seeing one room sparkle will make the hard work feel like it’s worth the effort.

3. When tidying, reduce trips around the house by temporarily depositing items in one spot en route to but not at their final destination.

4. Do two things at once. While laundry is going, scrub the shower stall.

5. Make small repairs. If you’re not handy, hire someone.

6. Invest in good rubber or vinyl gloves to protect your skin and nails.

7. Dust before vacuuming or cleaning the floor. Try feather or lambswool dusters, especially extendable ones for reaching above window and door casings and into corners. Household rags are invaluable for jobs requiring a damp cloth – natural fibres work best.

8. Buy mops with a squeeze mechanism (great for vinyl, linoleum or ceramic tile floors) and a decent-size heavy-duty pail – one with a measuring scale helps get soap-to-water ratios correct.

9. Don’t stand your brooms on their bristles. It will destroy their shape and diminish their effectiveness. Instead, get a broom holder.

10. Use a Swiffer for light dusting, or your favourite broom or vacuum attachment to clean hardwood floors.

Article Source: http://www.styleathome.com/organizing/organizing-ideas/10-spring-cleaning-tips/a/901

Image copyrighted to individual owner

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The Town of Oakville’s annual loose leaf collection is now underway and will run until Friday, April 29 in designated neighbourhoods.

Information on collection zones and dates can be found at www.oakville.ca or by calling ServiceOakville at 905-845-6601.

Residents are reminded to follow the Town’s loose leaf collection guidelines and keep leaf piles separate from any wood debris including large twigs, brush and branches.

Residents are asked to:

•Place all loose leaves on the boulevard or on the shoulder, not over catch basins or in the ditches in front of the house

•Make sure leaves are free of garbage or other yard waste material

•Put leaves out no earlier than seven days before the first day of your pickup and no later than 7 a.m. on the first day of collection in your zone

•Remove contaminated piles of leaves or leaves that have been put out after the collection dates.

The Halton Region provides bagged leaf and yard waste collection service to all Oakville residents on regular garbage collection days from April 4 to Dec. 8.

This is a separate program from the Town of Oakville’s loose leaf collection service.

Call 311 or visit halton.ca/waste for more information on curbside collection schedules.

Lea, D. (2016, April 18). Town of Oakville’s loose leaf collection service now underway. Retrieved April 19, 2016, from http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/6501968-town-of-oakville-s-loose-leaf-collection-service-now-underway/

Obtained from: Insidehalton.com

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The Town of Oakville held a flag-raising Monday (April 4) in recognition of World Autism Awareness Day (April 2).

The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 and invites member states and other organizations to create initiatives to raise public awareness of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

On Monday, Mayor Rob Burton proclaimed April 2 as Autism Awareness Day in Oakville.

In Halton, there is approximately 6,000 people living with ASD, according to Autism Ontario Halton Chapter, with one in 94 children diagnosed with the disorder across Canada.

“Autism Ontario’s Raise the Flag campaign, through the simple act of raising a flag, unites families, schools, communities, government and professionals in recognizing World Autism Awareness Day, and brings to light the struggles and triumphs of people on the autism spectrum,” said Lisa Mourad, of the Autism Ontario Halton Chapter.

“The campaign highlights the work done throughout the province, and the work that still needs to be done to ensure that children, youth and adults living with ASD are provided the means to achieve quality of life.”

The website www.raisetheflagforautism.com offers educational and awareness videos, stories and toolkits, among other features.

For more information, visit www.autismontario.com/halton.

Bkila, John. “Town of Oakville Raises Flag for World Autism Awareness.” Oakville Beaver, 09 Apr. 2016. Web. 11 Apr. 2016. obtained from: InsideHalton.com

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Marnie Fleming will receive her award in Visual and Media Arts (Outstanding Contribution) next week during a ceremony and presentation of the medallions by Governor General of Canada David Johnston at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

“I am so grateful to be acknowledged for my work as a curator, but this recognition owes a lot to the work of others — namely the gallery directors who supported me, my steadfast colleagues, and of course all the talented artists who made it so easy to organize outstanding exhibitions,” Fleming told the Oakville Beaver.

“When I look at the list of laureates who have received the award for Outstanding Contribution over the years, they have worked at major national or provincial institutions — they are the giants to whom I have always looked up,” she continued.

“I am thrilled and indebted to the awards jury for recognizing that you can be a curator from a smaller gallery in a suburban locale and do great programming: excellence doesn’t only happen in big institutions in big cities.”

Fleming, who served as curator of contemporary art at Oakville Galleries from 1991 until her retirement in 2014, received this year’s Outstanding Contribution award in recognition of her career-long commitment to showcasing artistic excellence in regional contexts, according to the local arts organization.

Her nomination statement cited Fleming’s “prolific, ground-breaking work” at Oakville Galleries and her dedication “to reimagining the role a small museum could play not only in its local community, but in actively supporting the careers of a new generation of artists.”

“I came to Oakville Galleries in 1991 and right from the outset I had ambitious plans for what could happen,” said Fleming. “Over time, it was deeply satisfying to watch Oakville Galleries grow in stature to garner a national reputation for its exciting programming, publications and permanent collection.”

Matthew Hyland, director of Oakville Galleries, said Fleming changed the role of the Canadian regional art museum in exhibiting, collecting and publishing during her 24 years at the local arts gallery.

“(Particularly) in ways that were substantive, forward-thinking and impactful at a national level,” said Hyland.

“While Oakville Galleries may be relatively modest in scale, Marnie’s ambitions never were — she was unwavering in her focus on bringing the best in contemporary art to Oakville in a manner that was meaningful, relevant and accessible.”

Governor General Awards recipients receive a medallion and a $25,000 cash prize.

The awards are funded and administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, and include categories for artistic achievement in visual and media arts, fine craft and outstanding contribution.

Bkila, J. (2016, March 20). Former Oakville Galleries curator honoured with GG award. Retrieved April 7, 2016, from http://www.insidehalton.com/whatson-story/6397158-former-oakville-galleries-curator-honoured-with-gg-award/

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Even on a cloudy day, the view from Katie Trusler’s kitchen table is the perfect vantage point for the golf course that once backed onto her house.

In November 2015, the owner of this prestigious course announced plans to pave over fairways to build a subdivision with 3,000 homes, retail and office space. ClubLink Corp., which owns dozens of golf courses in North America, bought the 93-hectare course for $40 million in 1998. The town of Oakville implemented an interim control bylaw in February to study the impact of the proposal. In the mean time, the club says “it’s business as usual,” and plans are in place to host the Canadian Open there this year.

A plan to develop on the golf course came before the Town of Oakville in March 2014. When the town didn’t approve the plan in the 180 days required under the provincial planning act, developer Bronte Green Corporation appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board. The proposal includes 760 residences on 55 hectares. The matter is still in before the OMB and is expected to continue to the end of the year.

The private 18-hole club on a 56-acre property in Markham accepted a $22 million offer from Fieldgate Developments in 2013. The sale became official in 2014, but the club entered into a ground lease to continue to use the golf course and facilities for up to three years. It’s not clear when that lease runs out.

Credit: Noor Javed at thestar.com | Full Article: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/03/27/gta-housing-developers-targeting-golf-courses.html

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Oakville Town council unanimously passed an interim control bylaw for Glen Abbey Golf Course Monday night, which prohibits any development from occurring on the property over a one-year period.

During that year, the golf course can continue operating at its existing capacity until the bylaw is repealed or lapses.

In presenting staff recommendations, Town of Oakville Planning Services Director Mark Simeoni told councillors staff is recommending an interim control bylaw because it can be used as a tool for council to receive more information to make a more informed decision.

In Glen Abbey’s case, he said three land use planning policy studies — Urban Structure review, Land Use Economic and Impact Analysis study and Cultural Heritage Landscapes study — need to be complete in order to assess and properly evaluate the potential Glen Abbey Golf Club redevelopment proposal, which was presented to staff by Glen Abbey Golf Course owners during a pre-consultation meeting held in November 2015.

The Urban Structure review, which is part of the current Livable Oakville five-year review, will evaluate the Town’s existing urban structure to determine whether changes are needed and the establishment of a new growth area is appropriate while the Land Use Economic and Impact Analysis study will examine the economic and tourism function of the existing and planned function of the Glen Abbey Golf Course.

“From a standpoint of staff, we see that Glen Abbey has a role in the Town’s overall economic structure,” said Simeoni.

He noted it’s important to understand the current use of that golf course as a private open space and natural area that can expand to “allow it to become an even better golf destination.”

He also noted its proposed planned function that calls for the development of 3,000-3,200 residential units as well approximately 70,000-90,000 square feet of new office and 70,000-80,000 square feet of retail space on the Glen Abbey Golf Course.

The Cultural Heritage Landscapes study, already underway, will assess the condition of eight properties next month — including the Glen Abbey Golf Club lands.

The properties will be evaluated on whether they have cultural heritage value or interest and could be designated heritage properties.

In the related report discussed, staff expressed concern about currently permitted development occurring during the study period for the cultural heritage landscapes.

“Such development, depending on where and how it occurs, could have adverse impacts on potential cultural heritage landscapes on the site,” the report states.

Prior to making its decision Monday, councillors heard from a number of residents who expressed support of staff recommendations.

But not everyone was in favour of the interim control bylaw, which would be in effect for one year, but could be extended for a total two years if the planning studies aren’t complete.

Calling it unnecessary, Mark Flowers, a lawyer representing ClubLink, which owns Glen Abbey Golf Club, said the Town does not need to enact the bylaw to undertake any of the studies, two of which are town-wide and another that is specific to the Glen Abbey lands.

Information that would come out of the Land Use Economic and Impact Analysis Study, and estimated to cost taxpayers approximately $150,000, would likely be found in two of the 38 studies his client has to complete as part of the application process, added Flowers, a lawyer with Davies Howe Partners LLP.

“In the ordinary course of a development application, the Town would wait until the applicant was prepared to provide those studies, the Town would then review those and potentially might be retaining outside consultants to assist in that review,” Flowers continued.

“The proposed bylaw unfairly targets this one specific property,” he said.

Arguing how eight properties were identified as “under threat” in a staff report, Flowers added if staff were “truly concerned about potential development undermining the next phase in the cultural heritage landscape study it begs the question why is the control bylaw only applicable to Glen Abbey and not any of these other high priority sites?”

In a press release issued a day after council’s vote, Mayor Rob Burton stated, “Provincial legislation is very clear that growth in local municipalities must be aligned with provincial planning objectives.”

“Any project of a significant size and scope which could alter Oakville’s existing planned approach in our Livable Oakville Official Plan needs careful study and analysis,” he stated.

“Council’s decision last night provides Town staff with the time and resources to complete the required studies, and will provide council with the information and analysis it will need to make an informed decision,” he said.

About $300,000 has been allocated to undertake the Urban Structure review and the Land Use and Economic Impact Analysis study.

To view the staff-related report, visit www.oakville.ca, click on the Agenda & Minutes tab and select the Mon., Feb. 1 council agenda.

Article Credit: Julia Lee at Oakville Beaver

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