Re: “Fawcettville” (April 24). As a Fawcettville resident, I speak for most of my neighbours when I say we are definitely NOT “looking forward to getting some new neighbours” as stated in your article about the new development by Hilden Homes. Not one person I have spoken to feels this way.
We are concerned and upset about suddenly having 85 new homes built in our backyard, with no additional road to service it, no second entrance for emergency vehicles, and no sidewalks for the children to safely avoid all the new traffic (at least 160 more cars). Most of the residents bought here to enjoy the quiet neighbourhood with its wooded area to access the Millennium Trail, and all this will be lost when “the majority of the trees” are “removed.”
Those who attended the meeting were attentive and polite instead of angry and vocal (except for one who came to challenge the builder about a different project). This must be why you assumed we all approve of the project. We are shocked this has been thrust upon us, and no, we are NOT “mostly happy.”
Lynne Grist, Fawcettville
Re: “Fawcettville” (April 24). I read with confusion this article, subtitled: “Residents of Fawcettville, a small neighbourhood just east of the Picton core, are looking forward to getting some new neighbours.”
I can contradict this optimistic take.
Fawcett Avenue is the only access road into and out of our neighbourhood of 45 houses. We have no sidewalk (not even planned), and this one access road will carry our residents, children and the elderly, dog walkers, and all the builders, contractors, trades, and equipment required for building.
While the reporter writes of the “big hope” current residents have for sidewalks and a corner store, according to planner Matt Coffey, as reported, sidewalks are only something to look at “at a later date.”
The article notes that the proposed 85 houses will connect the neighbourhood to the Millennium Trail. There already exists a foot and bicycle path that’s been there for decades.
The writer notes 16 butternut trees will be removed and that Hilden Homes will have to pay a fine to do so. In fact there is an entire forest on this future building site. A natural stand of a variety of trees and home to coyotes, foxes, peepers, owls, bald eagles and opossum.
I can’t stop the progress of expansion in our wonderful little area but I can voice my concerns and suggestions for improving upon what is going to have a large impact — on road safety and the environment. Perhaps the reporter would care to stick around and chat with a few of the current residents for the “real story.”
Katy Fillmore, Fawcettville
Bravo and thanks to Jason Parks for his very special editorial “We got Next,” (April 24). We do have next, thanks to people like Jason and hundreds of volunteers, leaders and girls wanting to try a hand – and succeeding – at many sports.
This editorial brought back very special memories. My younger sister loved to play hockey in the 1970’s when she played for Bert Robinson’s Girl’s Hockey Club and then the Toronto Screaming Eagles. Patty died tragically on a school bus trip in 1979 and all of her memorabilia from those hockey days was lovingly stored in a box.
A treasure was found there: a draft history of the North Metro Girls Hockey League which describes the origins of the Ontario Women’s Hockey League in the late 1970s. By 1979 the league started to take flight with member clubs from around Ontario taking part.
Upping the promotion of girls’ hockey, the league organized a “hockey showdown” between Newtonbrook Sr. and the Leslie Screaming Eagles at Maple Leaf Gardens prior to a Toronto Marlboros game.
Finally, the girls were in the big arena.
In the early 1980s the Toronto Aeros hosted a team from Denmark and even more games were played under the bright lights at the Gardens.
While this history ends with the 1983 team, research shows that Toronto girls teams continued to work hard to exist and provide an opportunity for girls to enjoy playing hockey.
My sister Patty was playing for the Toronto Screaming Eagles when she died in 1979. We are forever grateful to all the volunteers in the North Metro Girls Hockey League and to Patty’s teams which gave her the chance to excel at a game she loved.
All the best to girls and women everywhere who are making sure sport is as accessible to girls as it is for boys. They laid important groundwork for our Professional Women’s Hockey League.
Irene Harris, Picton
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