10 - Southpoint Sun
Road 7 couple fears losing trees
By Mark Ribble LEAMINGTON — Linda and Brent Metz would like to have their peaceful country life back — complete with trees. The couple, who lives on Road 7 north of Leamington, are bracing for the loss of their massive American Sycamore trees, and also fed up with the heavy truck traffic along their rural township road. “We’ve had to move downstairs because of the noise,” said Linda. “It’s deafening when we’re sitting in the kitchen or living room.” Linda, who works nights, finds it impossible to sleep with the noisy trucks going all day. Truck traffic has increased with the recent boom in greenhouse construction along the Highway 77 corridor. “We thought this was supposed to be a ‘no heavy trucks’ road,” added Brent. “But there’s more heavy trucks all the time.” The pair lives on the Hanzman farm, where Linda’s parents settled after they came to Canada following the Second World War. The trees have been there for as long as she can remember. “These trees must be close to 100 years old,” she said. “It’ll be awful if they cut them down.” At issue is the new power line being upgraded down Road 7 from Highway 77. The giant composite hydro poles will replace the existing wooden poles all along Road 7, from Highway 77 to County Road 31. Hydro One has already sent out notices and ran
ads in the newspaper, outlining their plans to residents. The notice says that if they need to cut or trim vegetation, the trees will be marked for removal. The two sycamores on their farm are in a direct line with existing poles. The Metzes want to know when that marking will take place. “We’ve called the information line,” said Brent. “They tell us they won’t be marked until February or March, which won’t leave us much time to protest the decision before they cut them down.” “In April 2021, Hydro One will begin critical upgrades to its equipment to meet the growing electricity needs of the Town of Lakeshore and the Municipality of Leamington,” said Hydro One spokesperson, Richard Francella. “This project includes installing new distributions lines and upgrading existing infrastructure to improve the efficiency of the system and enhance power reliability to customers. Francella went on to say that more than 550 community notices were delivered to property owners along the project route, which included details on additional engagements affected property owners can expect. “With planning still underway, we are assessing tree and vegetation removal and will prioritize balancing the needs of a safe, reliable system and the impacts to the local environment,” added Francella. “Before any work is
February 14, 1926 - February 4, 2015
Murray reid
August 17, 1921 - February 24, 1996
dan Voakes
On his Birthday February 5, 1944 Love Always, Your Family
lice,” he said. “Someone needs to fix this soon. We never asked for this.” Regarding the trees, Riley believes the sycamores are beautiful. “These beautiful sycamores will be left to rot,” he said. “They could at least harvest them.” The Hanzman farm sycamores have been part of an ongoing sycamore program for many years. The sycamore trees shed all of their bark every two years and a botanical company out of Ottawa arrives at the farm in the fall to pick up large pieces of bark from the trees. Sycamore bark is now being used to help treat anxiety in dogs. “It’s also being studied for humans,” added Brent. For the time being, all the Metzes and Rileys
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
can do is wait, but they hope that they can talk to someone from Hydro One or the municipality to sit down for a serious
discussion in the near future — with hope still alive to save those sycamores.
Linda and Brent Metz, with their dog Maggie, stand with one of two giant American Sycamore trees, in danger of being cut down to make room for an upgraded hydro line. Sun photo
IN MEMORIAM In Loving Memory of My Darling Husband
William leRoy (lee) SelWood
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DINA!
It was three years on February 2, 2021 that you entered heaven in the presence of Jesus our Saviour. Time goes by slowly now. I think of you & miss you every day. You were such a loving, gentle & kind, yet strong man. You held all of us together. I thank God for the time we had together. I look forward to the day when we’ll be in heaven together. You probably know that we have a great-grandson due in June. Dylan & Emily are calling him Ezra LEE. You would be so happy & proud, papa!! Fondest Love Forever, Tonie
Love, your family.
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In Loving Memory of
DJune anny abDul-Massih 9, 1980 – February 3, 2011 10 Y E A R S
Welcome to the Half Century Club!
Happy 60 Anniversary
IN MEMORIAM
IN MEMORIAM In Loving Memory of
Mary reid
completed, we will contact affected property owners and mark vegetation for removal if required.” Hydro One says they value community feedback and encourage residents to contact them with any questions or comments at 1-877-3456799 or Community.Relations@HydroOne.com. The sightline of the existing poles that have been installed on the eastern end of the road, indicates that many trees along that stretch of road will be affected. Neighbour, Ed Riley, has made numerous calls to the Municipality of Leamington, but says the response has been less than what he expected. “I’ve called about the truck traffic and have been told to call the po-
ABE & SUSAN EPP
On February 4, 1961, Abe Epp and Susan Neufeld were married in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
10 Y E A R S
Their children, Dave and Charlene Epp, Peter and Terri Epp and Carolyn and Tim Darling along with 8 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild congratulate them on 60 years of marriage.... for without that day 60 years ago.... we wouldn’t be here! They have provided a life-long loving example of what marriage should be!
They say there is a reason, They say that time will heal, But neither time or reason, Will change the way we feel. For no one knows the heartache, That lies behind our smiles, No one knows how many times, We have broken down and cried. We want to tell you something, So there won’t be any doubt, You’re so wonderful to think of, But so hard to be without. We cannot bring the old days back, When we were all together, The family chain is broken now, But memories live forever. Always and Forever in our hearts, Your Loving Family
During a lockdown we are not able to celebrate with them the way they deserve, but if you are able to contact them, please join us, their family, in congratulating them for this incredible milestone. Tina Neufeld Photography
