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THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2005 THE NEW TANNER Local Sri Lankan couple aid Asian relief efforts By FRANCES NIBLOCK The New Tanner For two long sleeples- days and nights, Acton's Kulenthiran Thurairasa did not know if his mother in Sri Lanka survived the earthquake and tsunami that decimated Southeast Asia. Thurairasa, who with wife Keruja Kulenthiran owns The Town Friar on Mill Street, quickly con- tacted his in-laws in the interior of Sri Lanka and learned they were all safe, but he could not reach his mother. Keruja Kulenthiran said her family lives in the inte- rior and all were spared the devastation of the coastal regions. "Some of our relatives are in the capital and they were okay as well, but my husband couldn't get in touch with his mom. "He didn't sleep -- when he called the lines were all engaged, but after two days we got her on the phone," she said on Friday, adding another son in England was flying to Sri Lanka to help. Kulenthiran said relatives in Sri Lanka told her many of the dead are children who were "sleeping when the ocean took them." The Kulenthirans met and married in Sri Lanka and came to Canada 13 years ago. They purchased The Town Friar six years ago, and moved to Acton four years ago. Kulenthiran said many people she's spoken with are relying on the Red Cross to get relief aid to where it is needed. Red Cross offices across the province stayed open on the weekend to accept disaster relief donations, including the office in Mil- ton that covers Acton as part of North Halton. "We've actually had a pretty good response in this area," said Red Cross official Judith Dobbs on Sunday, as she and two volunteers handled phone » calls and visits to the Mil- ton office. "Just this branch has raised over $25,000 since Wednesday (December 29)," Dobbs said, adding they hope that level of giv- ing continues this week. The donations have in- cluded large and small amounts with everyone giving from their hearts. "The youngest donator was a little three-year- old Milton. boy who Rockwood (519) 831-3221 FIT TO BE TRIED In-Home Personal Fitness Training New Years Resolutions! Margaret Iutzi, BA, CPTN, CFC miutzi@sympatico.ca Decorative Art Studio 77 Mill St. E., Acton, Ontario L73 1H5 ey ey-Ti ma Celery) & Registration Thurs. Jan. 6........10 am to 9 pm Fri. Jan. 7.... Sat. Jan. 8... Learn Decorative Painting No experience or artistic talent required! (519)853 0777 www.paintinfriends.ca ..-10 am to 9 pm ..10 am to 5 pm came in with $5 of his Christmas money, and the largest pledged donation is $3,000," Dobbs said, add- ing several companies have also agreed to donate to the Red Cross relief efforts. Financial donations to the Red Cross can be made on-line at www.redcross. ca, or by calling 1-800-418- 1111. The 24-hour toll-free line accepts MasterCard and VISA donations. The North Halton Red Cross office is at 100 Nipissing Road, Unit Five, Milton. The phone number is 905-875-1459. Welcome to the first stx weeks of the rest of your life. Change your body and your life in just six weeks. We'll show you how and help every step of the way with support, advice, nutrition and motivation. For six weeks, we'll put you on a diet that works for you, and provide weekly meetings full of information and motivation. Plus, you'll have full access to the Curves 30-minute workout. It's just six weeks. You can do this. Youll receive: -Weekly classes in diet, nutrition and motivation -Total access to Curves and our proven 30-minute workout -Membership to Curves after the program with no sign-up fee* -A 2-week supply of the Curves Protein Shake -A "Curves 6-Week Challenge" tote bag -A "Curves 6-Week Challenge" t-shirt Curves -Helpful nutritional brochures The power to amaze yourself" 519-940-0388 163 First Street, 905-951-8795 12612 Hwy. 50, Unit 11A, | 6-Week Challen Orangeville Bolton Tah 519-853-0502 905-702-0418 370-374 Queen Street, East, 41 Main Street, South, Acton Georgetown www.curvesinternational.com worldwide. * Offer valid only at participating locations with minimum 12 mo. c.d program. Not valid with any other offer. New members only.