WE ARE OPEN DURING DAVIS DRIVE CONSTRUCTION IT’S WORTH YOUR DRIVE...
WE’LL MAKE IT WORTH YOUR TIME!
Check out our LIST of activiti es aro u n d th e reg i o n
d Yesterday, today & tomorrow - Ford 567 Davis Drive • NEWMARKET ET
PAGE A3
NEWMARKET
905-853-5000 • www.shanahanford.com
NEWMARKET
The Era
Publicationmail agreement #40051189
■
$1 STORE SALES / 42 PAGES
Thursday, June 28, 2012
yorkregion.com
■
905-853-8888
Region gathers support for photo radar Several municipalities on board with campaign BY JOE FANTAUZZI
jfantauzzi@yrmg.com
STAFF PHOTO/SUSIE KOCKERSCHEIDT
How does your garden grow? Stonehaven Elementary School Grade 8 student Maddie Hyde and teacher Amber Nolan check out the school’s garden tower. For video of the project, go to yorkregion.com
York region aims for 25% forest cover
More trees mean less crime: study BY JOE FANTAUZZI
jfantauzzi@yrmg.com
If a tree grows in the city, does the crime rate fall? It’s a question researchers at the University of Vermont hope they have answered with a ‘yes’. And it’s a topic on which York Region is keeping a close eye. If so, their research and the growing body of evidence that supports it, could have implications for urban areas all over the world — and certainly in a rapidly urbanizing community such as York Region, the population of which is expected to hit 1.8 million by 2051, from 1.1 million today. The researchers hope from their study the following conclusion can be drawn: in two neighbourhoods with the same demographics, including socio-economics and urban design, the neighbourhood with more wellmaintained trees will have a lower crime rate,
‘Police departments should be increasingly involved in landscape design.’ Austin Troy
co-author of University of Vermont study relating tree cover to crime rate
said University of Vermont associate professor Austin Troy, who authored the study along with J. Morgan Grove and Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne. The Vermont study found a 10-per-cent increase in tree canopy was associated with about a 12-per-cent decrease in crime in the Baltimore, Md. area. Baltimore’s crime rate was the United States’ sixth highest last year, the Baltimore Sun reported earlier this month. The Vermont study authors embarked on the research because trees cost municipalities
money to install and it’s important to make a strong argument about their benefits, Mr. Troy said. York Region has placed a high priority on the relationship between the natural and built environment and is targeting a 25-per-cent forest coverage rate, up from the current rate, which has been hovering around 22.5 per cent for years, York Region forestry manager Ian Buchanan said. Healthy trees will ensure social benefits, including the offset of the crime rate, he said. “Healthy trees equal healthy communities,” he said. “This education and awareness of value-added social benefits of green infrastructure is huge.” Meanwhile, regional forest coverage fluctuates wildly across the region and drops as low as 10 per cent in some areas of highly urban municipalities. See TREES, page A15.
York Region’s police services board is slowly shoring up support for a provincial lobbying effort aimed at getting photo radar back on the streets. But as support for the plan grows in some communities, not everyone in York Region backs the idea. Letters of support, which include resolutions passed by several local councils, for the controversial speed enforcement program have been sent to the York police civilian governance agency. The letters were sent in response to a resolution passed by the board in April to pressure the province to allow municipalities to use photo radar.
‘Police can’t be everywhere at the same time.’ Virginia Hackson
East Gwillimbury mayor, speaking in favour of photo radar
The York police department faces increasing pressures on its budget and a need to maintain road safety, Deputy Chief Bruce Herridge said in April. Photo radar is missing from the force’s toolkit, he added. Georgina, Markham, East Gwillimbury and Richmond Hill have all passed resolutions in support of the board’s push to get photo radar back. However, the province must give the region the go-ahead. While noncommittal on the issue, Premier Dalton McGuinty’s office has told the board he has alerted Transportation Minister Bob Chiarelli and See COUNCILLOR, page A11.
Wacky weather boosts invasive emerald ash borer Limited precipitation could hurt native insect numbers By Chris Traber
ctraber@yrmg.com
Our mild fall and winter and unseasonably warm, dry spring are a one-two punch in favour of invasive insects. Tree-destroying critters, such as the emerald ash borer, went into the winter in great shape, while our forests are in a weakened state, York Region natural heritage and
CASH& FINANCE
Trees leafed early and are now emitting natural chemicals called volatiles that attracts pests. “It’s as though the trees are calling out to the emerald ash borer and saying, ‘Come and get me’,” he said. It will be a challenging summer for trees, which cover 22.5 per cent of York Region, Mr. Buchanan said. While the nasty invasive bugs will benefit from the dramatic weather shift, chances are traditional nuisances, including black flies and mosquitoes, could suffer. These insects
forestry manager Ian Buchanan explained. Invasive insect larvae live under tree bark. With a mild fall to enjoy prolonged feeding, the larvae were more robust heading into the winter. With virtually no winter kill, there are more of the creatures. This all sets the stage for what promises to be a banner year for the emerald ash borer, which has already killed millions of ash trees in southwestern Ontario, Michigan and surrounding states. The lack of rain and early spring could have negative consequences on tree growth and their ability to ward off bug infestation, Mr. Buchanan said.
See ASIAN, page A14.
Demo 2011 GRAND VITARA JX AWD
$18,995
00 ZERO DOWN $1320000Biweekly
Auto, stock 2319
*
Freight & PDI included Plus taxes only *Payment is bi-weekly with zero dollars down. Picture is for illustration only and may not be exact. Finance is 96 month term at 5.99%. Example; borrow $10,000 for 96 months @ 5.99%, payment is $60.63 bi-weekly for 96 months and C.O.B. is $2,611.52. All credit applications are being accepted but are subject to credit approval before delivery.
SUZUKI OF NEWMARKET
Thinking Suzuki? Good thinking! C
M
Y
The warm, dry weather York Region has experienced this year could help the invasive emerald ash borer thrive.
ALL CREDITT APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED
905-898-1081 or toll free 1-888-376-7779
80 Harry Har arry ry W Walker alke al ker Parkway ke Pa ket Newmarket
suzukiofnewmarket.com
N
Celebrate Canada Day