The Thornhill Liberal, Thursday, June 28, 2012, 20
Markham man charged in drug raid
HeeltoToes Footcare& OrthoticCentre MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING 1-800-665-MADD This message brought to you as a community service of the
Thornhill Liberal
A Markham man is one of eight southern Ontario residents charged following a major drug bust in Markham, Toronto, Mississauga and Brantford that netted about $20 million worth of drugs, York Regional Police said. Last November, police launched an investigation of suspected indoor marijuana grow operations at five locations in the GTA and southern Ontario. Early Tuesday afternoon, police searched houses in Markham, Brantford and Toronto and industrial units in Mississauga and Toronto, where they seized 20,000 plants. A 58-year-old Markham man faces charges production of a controlled substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. He was to appear in court yesterday.
Deer roam in Settlers Park in an area that has regrown since its days as a landfill.
Warnings say methane still risk From page 1.
Make Your July Spectacular! Join us for a host of Complimentary Events: Wild Wild West Texas BBQ Thursday July 12th 12-2pm, Get your cowboy hat on! Enjoy a tasty BBQ lunch with live country & western music outside in our gorgeous courtyard.Yeehaw! Mystical Night in the Courtyard Wednesday July 18th 7-9pm, It’s a full moon and the stars are aligned. Come have your cards, palm and tea leaves read and find out all the exciting moments ahead in your future. Savour some light snacks and refreshments. It’s a Palm Beach Party! Thursday July 26th 6-9pm, Live it up with delicious food and lively entertainment! Best beach attire wins a prize. Yonge St.
King Rd.
Sun set Bea SITE ch Rd. Bond Cres. Lake Ave.
EW
N
For a complimentary tour or to RSVP for an event, please call ������������ �� ���������������������������� 12925 Yonge St.(just south of King Rd. on east side) Richmond Hill, ON, L4E 0T7 www.OakRidgesRetirement.com
Despite warnings from town staff that the formerly unregulated landfill can still pose ongoing risk to the community when it comes to methane gas production and leachate generation, residents who spoke at the meeting said nature is reclaiming the land where they want “endless disruptions” stopped once and for all. “Local residents want nothing to do with the land, except to preserve it,” said Rigby Andrews of the newly formed Settlers Park Residents Association. Mr. Andrews said while they understand the issue, the pilot is a “terrible waste of money” and will destroy the natural habit. “Wrong project, wrong time, wrong place,” he said. “Nature’s working with us, not against us.” However, while methane gas production has declined steadily and dramatically well below the 2.5 per cent compliance level set by the Environment Ministry since the landfill was closed nearly 40 years ago, readings taken last summer spiked from 4 to 14 per cent and 3 to 41 per cent last fall, according to Gary Adamkowski, Markham’s director of asset management. “Explosion — it’s a possibility, however remote,” Mr. Adamkowski said. He said the ministry was concerned enough to ask Markham to monitor methane levels at nearby houses and Bayview Golf and Country Club, “because they are at risk”. Mr. Adamkowski said the proposed pilot would not have been a total disruption of the existing habitat. Instead, he said it’s his understanding the aerobic bioreactor has the potential of stopping methane production “totally and immediately”. “It’s rare to have one so near a residential
development, but it’s not new at all,” he added. “It will be a healthier ecosystem. It may be different, but it’ll be healthier.” But for Kimberly Seymour, who has a methane detector installed in her home, the pilot is an optional experiment that will affect people and wildlife. “Believe me, it’s not a landfill, it’s a park,” she said. No one would argue with that, said Mayor Frank Scarpitti. However, the mayor, the only member of council to vote against what he called Mr. Shore’s “premature” motion, said it’s the town’s fiduciary responsibility to look after residents’ well-being. What methane gas can do, “That’s one picture you are not going to be able to show me,” he said. “We are very concerned for you. To ask for the motion now, it flies in the face of getting the information we need to make the proper decision.” Markham council unanimously endorsed Mr. Scarpitti’s suggestion to defer the installation of a redundancy system and a leachate collection system, as proposed in Mr. Shore’s motion. Mr. Scarpitti also pointed out that under ministry guidelines, Markham doesn’t have authority to bring the landfill into the town’s park system and designate it the German Mills Meadow and Natural Habitat. Currently designated in the official plan as a landfill area producing methane gas with a gas collection system, changing the land use or designation would require ministry approval, commissioner Brenda Librecz said. Mr. Scarpitti’s motion to refer the parkland and natural habitat recognition to staff with the ministry was OK’d by a split vote of 7-6. Councillors Valerie Burke, Howard Shore, Don Hamilton, Colin Campbell, Alan Ho and Logan Kanapathi voted against it.