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Beaver THE OAKVILLE A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 47 No. 152 From Beijing to Oakville SPORTS www.oakvillebeaver.com CELEBRATING 25 YEARS! Between Kerr & Dorval 175 Wyecroft Rd. Oakville 905.845.6653 www.lockwoodchrysler.com YOUR FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS "USING COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES" FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2008 48 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Green Christmas Inside Opinion........................................6 Artscene ....................................32 Worship......................................33 Sports ........................................40 Real Estate ................................43 Classified ..................................44 Full Delivery: Superstore, No Frills, Shopper's Drug Mart, Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart Partial Delivery: M&M Meats, Metro Canada, Rogers Wireless, Price Chopper, Food Basics, Gino's Pizza, Mark's Work Warehouse, Sobeys, Pharma Plus, Fortino's, Zellers, Sears, Staples Business Depot, Best Buy, Future Shop, Toys R Us, Pier 1 Imports, 2001 Audio For home delivery & customer service call (905) 845-9742 Mon., Tues. and Thurs. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Wed. 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Fri. 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat 10 a.m.-3 p.m. NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS call (905) 845-9742 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com See inside today's paper for special subscription offer. LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER SINGING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 at St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School were "going green" on Tuesday during their Christmas concert Santa Goes Green. The show highlighted ways to make Christmas more environmentally friendly through song and dance. For more photos, see page 37. Salvation Army kettles nearly half empty By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Oakville Salvation Army's annual Christmas Kettle Campaign has just under a week left to go -- but it still has nearly half of its fundraising goal to meet. "We're quite a bit shy of our $105,000 goal," admitted Aisha King, community services coordinator of the Oakville Salvation Army Community Church Wednesday. The total kettle fund was at $56,246.50 as of Wednesday, said King. Perhaps that's not surprising as daily reports are filed about the faltering economy and job insecurity. Whether people are coping with an uncertain future or worrying about retirement investments, or just watching worriedly, it has left everyone clutching their pocketbook a little tighter. As local social service agencies deal with an influx of new clients and cope with reduced donations, the numbers are expected to continue to grow in coming months. It is adding up to a rough ride this holiday season. The Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle Campaign kicked off on Friday, Nov. 14 and continues until Christmas Eve -- just under a week away. Kettles are located across town and specifically in the following venues: · Oakville Place, Upper and Lower level · Hopedale Mall · Great Canadian Superstore at Dundas Street and Trafalgar Road · LCBO stores at Dorval Crossing, Oak Park www.carstaroakville.com 547 Trafalgar Rd. 905-845-7579 2212 Wyecroft Rd. 905-847-2595 · Full Mechanical Repairs · Emissions Testing & Repairs (Only at Wyecroft location) See Volunteers page 3 * Oakville's largest selection of Natural Limestone and Hardwood · Custom Quality Workmanship 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN TILE INSTALLATION LARGEST SELECTION OF WOOD FLOORING OVER 500 SAMPLES ON DISPLAY GRANITE COUNTERTOPS BUY DIRECT FROM THE IMPORTER LARGE SELECTION OF NATURAL LIMESTONE & PORCELAIN TILE Monday to Friday 7:30am-6:00pm · Saturday 7:30am-5:00pm · Closed Sunday 243 SPEERS ROAD, OAKVILLE · 905.338.1288