The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, December 18, 2013 | 6 Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanza, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noël, Happy Hanukkah. Among the many holiday greetings, there is another phrase to remember -- Don't drink and drive. As we take part in family gatherings, of ce celebrations and get togethers with friends, we want to do so responsibly -- to ourselves, our families and others. The holidays are a time to celebrate all the good things about life -- as we enjoy the season and celebrate the new year, people will participate in annual traditions, exchange gifts, visit friends and talk of plans for 2014. However, there will be some who will plan a funeral, hold a sombre visitation service and try to pick up the pieces of their lives after losing a loved one to a senseless traf c collision caused by an impaired driver. The annual Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program is underway in Halton and other regions with the intention of lessening the chance of a drunk motorist destroying a life or devastating a family. The Halton Regional Police Service works with community partners who are supportive of this worthy endeavour, including the Halton Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (M.A.D.D.). The effort continues because, despite the ongoing RIDE campaigns and endless public awareness programs, there are people who choose to disregard common sense, if only for a moment, or blatantly disregard the law, and drive after drinking. On the rst day of this year's month-long campaign, Halton police made two arrests for impaired driving and issued numerous suspensions to drivers who indicated a "warn" reading on roadside alcohol screening devices. That was just the rst day. If you have been drinking, make sure you have a designated driver or call a cab because if you don't you could pay a very heavy price. In addition to putting your life and other motorists at risk, you will, among other things, face spiralling insurance rates, costly nes, loss of licence for at least three months and the shame and embarrassment of being in court. There's also the possibility of reading your name in print in the local newspaper and on the paper's website. None of this is worth taking a chance. If you see a suspected drunk driver, call 9-1-1. If you're the owner of a licensed establishment, make sure your staff know their responsibilities when it comes to serving alcohol. Do everything in your power to prevent someone you know who has consumed alcohol from getting behind the wheel. It doesn't matter how angry the individual gets, you will be doing them, and other drivers, more than just a favour. The message couldn't be simpler: if you drink, don't drive. Don't drink and drive Editorial H E L P F O R T H E "Connected to your Community" P H I L I P P I N E S 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 150 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Filipino Social Club of Oakville's (FSCO) annual fundraising gala at Le Dome Banquet Hall bene tted victims of the Haiyan typhoon in the Philippines. Proceeds went to the Oakville Red Cross and Christ For Life Ministries (CFLM) and also helped CFLM collect non-perishable goods and clothes. To date, CFLM forwarded all cash donations received directly to Missionaries in the Philippines along with 29 boxes of goods and clothes. FSCO is a group of volunteers who conduct outreach activities locally and in the Philippines. Many current FSCO directors are on Club Filipino of Oakville board. Over the past 20 years, the club has supported a host of charities. Here, from left are: Neomi Pasaporte, Luisa Nolido, Edith Livet, Juliet Bangaan Hajos, Nonet Carrion, Puri Lukec, Josephine Arquez, Divina Batara, MP Terence Young, Councillor Ralph Robinson and Dr. Ceferina Trenholm. Missing from FSCO Board: Cristina Dela-Cruz Wilson, Carrie Lam, Senia Samante and Vicky Scarfo. | submitted photo Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production Please give hope to those who need it Re: Oakville mom refuses to put a price on her son's life, Oakville Beaver, Nov. 6, 2013 Today (Dec. 12) we went to the Juravinski Cancer Clinic to learn the results of the two Avastin treatments Bryce has received. Thankfully, it showed signi cant shrinkage in the tumour. We are now of cially another statistic for the approval of Avastin for the treatment of brain cancer. Thanks to the generosity of friends and family, we have raised enough money to fund more treatment, but what will happen when the well runs dry? Letters to the Editor SANDY PARE MARK DILLS Will the government make the decision to fund the drug and give hope and time to those who need it? We are placing our faith in our elected ofcials and hope and pray that funding will be approved. Two years since the last review of this drug for treatment of brain cancer is literally a lifetime for many. Let's make this a Merry Christmas for the sufferers of this insidious disease. Please heed the call and step up. Lyn and Jim Smith, Oakville MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Thank you to a `Christmas angel' downtown I lost my wallet in downtown Oakville (Dec. 11) around noon. It was -17 C with the wind chill. I had just walked my mini-Aussie at Joshua Creek, and was dressed in a bulky, warm jacket so didn't feel my wallet fall out of the pocket. I had been sick with the u all week, and this was my rst outing. I had grabbed a sh sandwich at the butcher's shop and then parked in front of Write Impressions to quickly buy a fountain pen and purple ink. I went to pay and couldn't nd my wallet. Thinking I had left it in my car, I searched my car, no wallet. Now panicked, I ran back to the butcher's; no wallet. I crawled on the frozen ground looking under parked cars in front of both parking spots, and in between. No wallet. Defeated, I returned to my car and sat in the front seat ready for a good, big cry. An angel, with wavy red hair, a pink fur vest, overtop a owing sparkle-top and leggings knocked on my passenger-side window, smiled, and said, "Are you looking for something?" I recognized her as the owner of She Is, a chic women's shop on Lakeshore Road. She gave me my lost wallet and more big smiles. She is beautiful, gracious, and gentle. Overcome with gratitude, I blew her big kisses the whole way out of her store. Thanks to my "She Is" angel. What good Christmas karma her kindness was. Maggie Jansen, Oakville Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. 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.