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A 2 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 18, 2002 Reduce car theft with "Project TATO" "Project TATO" (Target Auto Thefts in Oakville) is now under way. Given the large increase in auto thefts in Oakville -- 220 since January -- Hal ton Regional Police are asking the public's assistance to augment the efforts of its Criminal Investigations Bureau and Street Crime Unit. The focus will be on reducing the number of vehicles stolen in Oakville, as well as around Halton Region. Auto theft is not a victimless crime, say police, since every year it costs communities millions of dollars through property and increased insurance premiums that affect all drivers. An integral component of this initiative is the public. To that end, police say they need information, without which offenders cannot be apprehended and prosecuted. If anyone has information regarding a stolen vehicle or sees suspicious activity in their neighbourhood, they are asked to call police at 905-825^777. Residents can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS to provide information anonymous ly. Tips that lead to an arrest entitle callers to a reward. Anyone with information on car thefts can also call the Street Crime Unit at 8254747 ext. 2229. Police encourage motorists to lock their vehicles, since that makes it harder for thieves to ply their trade. For more theft prevention tips, visit the police Web site at www.hrps.on.ca. G u a r a n t e e d W e ig h t L o s s ! V H o w m u c h c a n y o u p in c h ? We will support you every inch of the way! NO GYM REQUIRED Call today for your FREE CONSULTATION Lost 25 lbs & 40 inches "You can too! Let me show you how!" L o r i, O a k v i l l e C o u n s e lo r Peter C.McCusker · Oakville Beaver Assembled crowd for the start of the Lake Ontario Hall of Fame Poker Run at Bronte Harbour Saturday. Poker Run raises $60,000 for Sick Kids By Wilma Blokhuis OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF W /O O f W e ig h t Loss m P ro g ra m ^ · Guaranteed Results · Grocery Store Foods · Safe, Easy & Effective · Lose up to 7 lbs. per Week! · Personalized Service and Weight Control Programs 2 0 0 CENTRES & GROWING 1 395 A b b e y w o o d R d. (in B r u n o 's P la z a ) 9 0 5 -4 6 9 -4 5 3 2 Call today for your FREE one-on-one consultation. Programs specials available on full programs, excludes products. 3 8 0 D u n d a s St. E U nit 9 (in L o n g o ' s P la za ) 9 0 5 -2 5 7 -2 4 0 4 n e rb a lm a g ic.ca More than 45 performance boats powered their way through the waters of Lake Ontario on Saturday in the 15th annual Power Boating Canada Lake Ontario Hall of Fame Poker Run in the hopes of collecting the best hand. Regardless of the speed capa bility of these boats, "the best hand wins," said poker run organizer Bill Taylor, publisher of Power Boating Canada magazine. "We had one boat, a 55-foot Skater with 3,000 horsepower in aircraft engines," Taylor continued, "but, speed is irrelevant because it's not a race." Performance boats are worth $250,000 and up, added Taylor. Describing the poker run, the first held here since Oakville was a card stop some 10 years ago during the Oakville Waterfront Festival, was an "awesome event," said Taylor. "We'd like to run it here annually and we're seriously con sidering it for next season." Official starter Cam Jackson, Minister of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation, an nounced a $16,000 provincial sponsorship to market the poker run. The winner, Gord and Karen McNeil, of Stoney Creek, in a 38foot boat called `Opener Up,' had a Jack, King and an Ace in their fivecard hand. Sinish Duric of Concord, Ont., placed second with three 7s, one 8 and a King; and Howard Dale of Whitby came third with a two Kings, two 4s, and a Queen. The poker run began with a charity dinner that included a live and silent auction at the Harbour Lighthouse, raising more than $60,000 for the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation, said Taylor. The event, which started and finished in Bronte and took partic ipants to Ontario Place and Bluffer's Park and back via Ontario Place to Bronte for a driv ers' banquet at the Harbour Lighthouse Restaurant where the winners were announced. The route was altered because of high waves on Lake Ontario, Taylor explained, hence the boaters picked up their fourth cards from a boat anchored near Ontario Place, not Fifty Point as originally planned. Participants received their first and last cards in Bronte, their second and fourth at Ontario Place, and their third at Bluffer's Park. "When we left Bronte, it was a bit drizzly and the water was calm," said Taylor. "By the time we got to Ontario Place we had 2 1/2-ft waves. When we left Bluffer's Park, we had six-foot waves during the afternoon. The boats were three to four feet off the water, an unbelievable, beautiful sight. It was an awesome event." Taylor led the poker run in his yel low pace boat. Taylor estimates about 12,000 spectators lined the route - about 1,000 in Bronte. A number of them were in their boats and "we had to power around them" to get to Ontario Place, said Taylor. The Home Office Event of the Season Choose From Traditional To Contemporary Styles Atwood at Oakvillegreen meeting Say No to Urban Sprawl, an evening with former Toronto mayor John Sewell, author Margaret Atwood and Ajax Mayor Steve Parish, is set for Tuesday, Sept. 24, at the 707 Galaxy Club. Hosted by Oakvillegreen Conservation Assoc. Inc., the 7:30 p.m. event will address issues surrounding the passing of Official Plan Amendment (OPA) 198, which paves the way for development on parts of 7,600 acres north of Dundas Street. Margaret Atwood -- author of more than 30 volumes of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry -- is making a rare public appearance at the event to share her per spective on what's happening in the Oakville community. Her work includes The Handmaid' s Tale, Blind Assassin , Alias Grace and Cat' s Eye. John Sewell is a respected author and advocate of responsible urban planning. Steve Parish is a crusader for election reform who believes that developers should not con tribute to municipal election campaigns. The Galaxy Club is located at 475 North Service Rd. E. Admission is free but donations to Oakvillegreen accepted. S i f t e d ' · · · · · · Computer Cabinets Conference Tables Boardroom Tables Reception Stations Lighting Business Accessories ONE DAY SALE! 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