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6- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday November 1, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 905-632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council.The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206,Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate.The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Commentary Guest Columnist NEIL OLIVER Publisher DAVID HARVEY General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager Metroland Media Group Ltd. includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Caledon Enterprise, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Burlington Shopping News, City Parent, Collingwood/Wasaga Connection, East York Mirror, Erin Advocate/Country Routes, Etobicoke Guardian, Flamborough Review, Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press, Harriston Review, Huronia Business Times, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist & Sun, Midland/Penetanguishine Mirror, Milton Canadian Champion, Milton Shopping MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA ANCHOR Circ. Manager WEBSITE oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver is a division of Stylists urged to be breast friends Gary Carr, Halton Region Chair e are counting on hair stylists in Halton to become their clients's Breast Friends as part of a public health initiative. The initiative's goal is to educate women about the importance of having mammograms every one to two years if they are 50 or older. A joint initiative among public health units in Halton, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk, Hamilton and Niagara, the Be a Breast Friend project is funded by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation-Ontario Region. Its partners include the Canadian Cancer Society and the Ontario Breast Screening Program. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. In Halton Region, close to 70 women die each year because of the disease. Eight out of 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50 and have no known risk factors. That's why screening is so important. Through the Breast Friend program, stylists are talking to their clients about the importance of having regular mammograms. Making time for regular mammograms is especially important for women who are 50 and older, to detect breast cancer in the early stages, when it is most treatable. Salons and stylists who participate in the program receive free educational resources including copies of a glossy magazine called Squeeze. Participating stylists are encouraged to talk to clients about four main issues: · mammograms can save lives by finding breast changes in the early stages; · women 50 and older need regular mammograms every one to two years; · women 50 and older can book their own free mammograms by calling the Ontario Breast Screening Program at 1-800-668-9304; · all women should understand how their breasts normally look and feel and talk to their doctors about any changes. Many women have unique relationships with their hair stylists. Because of these close relationships, stylists are often able to talk to clients about personal issues that others can't. Understanding the importance of regular screening through mammograms -- and passing that information on to clients as part of regular conversations -- provides stylists with another way to further strengthen these special relationships and help their clients to stay healthy. A number of salons, including First Choice Haircutters, Milton; City Looks, Burlington; Studio 238 and the Waterfall Spa and Salon in Oakville participated in the program last year. We are hoping that even more salons will join the Breast Friends program this fall. For more information about the Be a Breast Friend Project, visit www.beabreastfriend.ca. Stylists and clients participating in the program can visit the website and complete a survey for a chance to win prizes. Breast cancer death rates have declined since at least the mid 1990s. Through efforts such as the Breast Friends program, we can work together to share the facts about breast cancer and better the chances of early detection and successful treatment and prevention. Gary Carr IAN OLIVER Group Publisher Media Group Ltd. News, Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News, Napanee Guide, Newmarket/Aurora Era-Banner, Northumberland News, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Oakville Shopping News, Oldtimers Hockey News, Orillia Today, Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington Port Perry This Week, Owen Sound Tribune, Palmerston Observer, Peterborough This Week, Picton County Guide, Richmond Hill/Thornhill/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror, Stouffville/Uxbridge Tribune, Forever Young, City of York Guardian RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY: Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America W THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: United Way of Oakville TV AUCTION The commando approach to combating the fiscal crisis mid the current global economic crisis -- with darker and more ominous fiscal storm clouds congregating on the horizon -- families are tightening already-cinched belts and consumers are apparently holding on to what little is left in their wallets. How dire is the current crisis? The stock market has become a punch line. Every time we blink, more jobs have disappeared. Net worth ain't at all what it once was (or, rather, what we once thought it was). Statistics say that consumer confidence has sunk to its lowest level since the heyday of the Commodore 64 (that would be 1982, kids) and forecasters are predicting a crappy Christmas for retailers who have already been hurting for months. So, what are people doing in the shadow of this storm? According to reports, we're acting like we're under attack: fussing, fretting, cocooning, curling up into a fetal ball and sucking our thumbs. And, of course, the media has pounced on our fears, pounding us with horror stories -- frequently deploying the D-word (Depression) even though economists have not yet fully endorsed the R-word (Recession). A Fear-mongering, in other words. Reminiscent of the mad chirping they called responsible bird flu reportage. On the more practical side, the media is inundating us with tips on how to survive the current crisis (just as they offered pertinent advice on how to avoid bird flu: wash your hands; don't touch an affected bird; if you touch an affected Andy Juniper bird, wash your hands). Just this morning my newspaper advised me on ways to budget, cut corners, practice "fiscal frugality" and stretch a buck. Now, I'm cool with purchasing in bulk (even if it means I have 1,000 rolls of toilet paper crammed into a closet that only fits 50). I'll use coupons, even if it sends everyone standing behind me in line at the grocery store into spasms. I'll barter with friends and family for goods and services (if you paint my whole house, I'll write you a funny paragraph -- sorry, I have no other appreciable skills). I'll reduce my energy costs by turning down the thermostat and pretty much freezing to death all winter. That said, I'm not quite ready to wear the same pair of underwear multiple days in succession, turning them inside out if need be, even if it does save on laundering costs. Seriously, if this crisis comes to that, I'll go commando. I jest, but I also wonder: what other choice do we have but to cower at the coming storm? One oppressive evening back in early August, baseball fans at Chicago's Wrigley Field witnessed the slow approach of ominous storm clouds. Suddenly, tornado warnings were issued, strident sirens sounded and it looked like the stadium might take a direct hit. Most fans ran for cover. However, some did not: some just sat in the bleachers, altogether unfazed, waiting for the storm to pass (or daring it to get them). I saw footage of these people and I was amazed at their bravery (or stupidity). No doubt there was beer involved, but still. When the storm of terrorism threatened, wise people advised us to get out and live our lives -- because you can't live life curled up in the fetal position, sucking your thumb -- and because, if you live in fear, the storm has won. So, I think I may choose to ignore the current crisis. And, yes, there will be beer involved. Andy Juniper can be visited at his Web site, www.strangledeggs.com, or contacted at ajjuniper@gmail.com.