Lawnmower Service CURRENT POWER MACHINERY INC. (2 Mock east of Southdown . Q O O > 1 0 4 4 Road tn Clarkson) DO IT NOW! 1661 Lakeshore Rd. W. Mississauga Editor: Wilma Blokhuis Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 250) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: blokhuis@haltonsearch.com \ \ t : i ) n i : s i ) . \ v . u m * : r>. 2 < x u · i m FOCUS ^ ^ CREMATIOfy K tfi tlx tacts, him out about tlx choices it provides.9 Glen Oaks Memorial Gardens 3164 9th Line. Oakville 0 4257 -1100 Official Media Sponsor Honouring much loved citizens Bench fo r Donna and Bill Hill By Wilma Blokhuis B EA V ER F O C U S E D ITO R A Jamie Smith* Special to the Beaver Suzy Pallo. granddaughter of Donna and B ill H ill, sits 011 the bench at Bronte Harbour that was dedicated to the late proprietors of Lakeside M arketeriu on Saturday by the Bronte B IA . spot beneath a willow tree at Bronte Harbour was known locally as a favourite vantage point for the late Bill and Donna Hill. On Saturday, a new park bench dedicated to two of Bronte's best loved citizens was unveiled by the Bronte B IA in their memory. It overlooks the start of the B ill Hill Promenade at the harbour and sits beneath an old willow tree that the couple fought successfully to spare from the chainsaw. "M y grandmother saw this view everyday for 83 years, my grandfather for only 70," said Suzy Pallo at the dedication. ' B ill and Donna could think of no other place on earth they'd rather live than this little town of Bronte, even though they had the means to go any where they wanted in their later years." she said. "B ill liked to promote Bronte more than him self. but the real motivator behind everything he saved was his wife Donna. "Their deaths, only three months apart, was the end of a great love story, or more likely, just the beginning." B ill Hill died in the fall of 2(X)I at the age of 83. He was a modest, caring man. known for his gen erosity and sense of humour. He was named Oakville's Senior of the Year in 1986. Hill was bom in Port Credit on March 4, 1919. and moved to Bronte with his family in 1933. Shortly afterwards, he met the former Donna Joyce of Bronte, whom he married on July 24. 1940. The couple has been a fixture in Bronte since Hill opened Lakeside Marketeria on Bronte Road on June 5. 1947, taking over the building after his father-in-law retired. Donna Joyce H ill died in early January at age 83. She was a life-long resident of Bronte, the daughter of John 'Dub' Joyce, who ran the local barber shop in the portion of Lakeside Marketeria now known as B ill H ill's Ice Cream Shoppe. After dedicating her life to her family and the business, she quietly resumed her artistic career at age 55. making award-winning porcelain dolls complete with elaborate clothing - for the next 20 years. (S ee 'H ills' page B3) Table for Pamela Caine Stokes By Wilma Blokhuis BEAVER F O C U S E D IT O R A t first glance, it appears two half-built picnic tables have appeared in Lakeside Park, requiring anybody who decides to use them to sil with their backs towards Lake Ontario. No. this is not a joker's prank. Nor are they an unusual work of art. They're picnic tables for wheelchair users, who can sit at these tables facing th e lake. Their ablebodied companions can join th e m on th e bench, and tum their heads to view th e lake. One of these tables - the pair w a s b u ilt a t a c o s t of just over $8(K) - has been dedicated to Pamela Caine Stokes, a life-long a d v o c a te fo r e q u a l righLs and equal access for the physically disabled. Caine Stokes contracted polio at age nine, and lived 50 years with the effects of the disease, spending most of those years in a wheelchair. From that vantage point, she fought for housing with doors wide enough for wheelchairs to pass through, accessible washrooms, kitchen counters, appliances with accessible knobs and handles, and sinks with taps low enough be be reached from a seated position. Her advocacy also included light switches and elevator buttons. It led, in part, to the Ontario March of Dimes building the Jean and Howard Caine Apartments in downtown Oakville, accessible housing for physi cally disabled adults, some of them requiring around-the-clock attendant care. Her last project, before her death on May 23. 2000. was to help launch Disability Information and Services (D IA S), a social and self-help group. To commemorate the second anniversary of Caine Stokes' death, the picnic tables were dedi cated in her memory. One of them bears a plaque placed there by D IAS. "That's marvelous." said her mother Jean Caine, who since suffering a stroke a few years ago, is now confined to a wheelchair. " Pam would be proud." she said. "And. the tables are just the right height for wheelchairs and powerchairs. She would be ticked if they weren't the right height. This is just grand, a brilliant idea. "1 think the town should put a blue wheelchair symbol on each table." she added, continuing her daughter's mission to recognize the right of dis abled people to equal access to the tow n's facili ties. Similar tables may be placed at Dingle and Coronation Parks. Funds to build these tables were raised from the first two annual Walk & Roll events organized by D IA S. The third annual event is planned in August. The first was held the year Caine Stokes died, said Marie Cosulich, president of D IA S and a caregiv er of one of Caine Stokes' friends. "Pam would have been tickled pink to have seen these tables. People in wheelchairs can enjoy them along with the rest of the world." she said. (S ee S he' page B3) Barrie Erskine* Oakville Beaver Seated around a picnic table dedicated to the late Pam ela Caine Stokes by D IA S - Disability Inform ation and Services, are from left, Linda Bauer, Jean Caine (Caine Stokes' mother), Michael Caine (her brother), Jean Legacy, Daisy Watson, and sons Andy and Jam es Stokes. The Body Shaping Fitness Studio For Women. Dirk Gebhardt Maria Kinlough M aria and D irk have crcated O ak v ille' s m o st u nique fitness stu d io to r W om en. Jon are cordially invittd to tour tfie Studio It is a lovely place to exercise your fitness dreams. You will experience a 10,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art environment including the very best equipment, excellent child minding, a variety of classes, hot tub, sauna, make-up vanities, private showers, cardio theatre, personal training, massage therapy, weight loss management and lots of free parking. You will never be pressured into becoming a member and no one will call you after your visit. T he decision is yours! If you choose to join us you will receive all the assistance that you need. There are six kinesiologists, two registered massage therapists, a holistic nutritionist and numerous support staff to help you achieve your goals. We believe that fitness should be fun and stress free. Please call to book an appointment to see for yourself whv the Studio was voted best fitness facility in Oakville. IT'S FUR STORAGE TIME Celebrating our 51styeirr in Oakville Located in Beautiful Downtown Oakville 209 Lakeshore Road East '905) 845-2031 Mon.-Fri. 9-6 Sat. 9:30-5 Sun. Closed I ^ D ia m o n d Award W in n e r for O a k v ille ' s Best F itness Facility. F o r m o re in fo rm a tio n please call ( 9 0 5 ) 8 4 9 - 1 9 1 9 183 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, Ontario L6K. 1E7 (Just East of Dorval) w w w .b o d y s h a p in g s tu d io .c o m