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THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday. March 21, 2001 i Go 'C o tfces ivices FOR INCREDIBLE 2001 FINANCING RATES AND SELECTION Focus aA/ BRAND NEW QDL2001 Focus Sedan I W / 0 M A R K ET VALUE $ 1 7 R O I * w / w 'ii;\ ; : 11 Jw w 1 r Taurus Windstar Sport O R LE A S E FO R 1 IA N H IN R F IN A N C IN G Automatic trans.. air cond.. AM/FM with CD player. power door locks with remote keyless entry. m m with CD player. dual stane front, air bans power door locks with remote keyless entry. dual stage front, air hags. Stock #15194 A l i n f l " J m o nti I PLUS JS M TM f ] f | " TAXES " | ^ V Y w jl m o nth 1 M PLUS taxes 3 6 -M O N T H BRAND NEW LE A S E 2 0 0 1F o r dT a u r u sS E W g n M A R K ET VALUE $ t 9 o 4T:i 2 >,4 r0v * O R LE A S E FO R 3.0 Litre. OHV V6 engine. 4-speed auto., 4-wheel ABS. air cond.. power windows & locks. AM/FM stereo with CD changer. Stock #1W123 M O NTH PLUS TAXES 3 6 -M O N T H LE A S E tk i BRAND NEW yjL2001 Ford Windstar /ft Sport M A R K ET VALUE OA-SII : ' l I \ ? : : $9f% Q J f i* Photo by Riziero Vertolli Oakville Transit bus driver Tommy Whitaker (left) was recently presented with a 25-year safe driving award from the Transportation health and Safety Association and one of his regular Care-A-Van passengers, who says the award is well deserved, is Keith Johnson (right). !I0:; ;iN G 3.8 Litre. Litre, 200 HP. V6 engine. * A .r m . L J ^ * auto trans.. air cond.. dual J M On NTH windows, ' r K mo th sliding doors, pwr. windows.' PLUS lock & mirrors, speed control, control. W ^M 3 PLUS TAXES tilt steering, privacy glass. ta x e s Stock #1W123 : 3 6 -M O N T H L E A S E O R LE A S E FO R TEST DRIVE Instock a t --L r* " -- You're in safe hands with Tommy the bus driver By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF W hen Tommy W hittaker hopped out of Toronto streetcars and onto Oakville buses 25 years ago, he thought he was on easy street. The Oakville bus driver never took it easy though when it came to safety. Now, he's picking up a Safe Driving Award for a quarter of a century of clean driving -- from the Transportation Health and Safety Association. The otherwise modest Whittaker is pleased as punch about his record -- one he's achieved behind the wheel of his own car, too. "There's no use saying that I'm not proud, I am," he said. "I got lucky. You just have to be very careful," said the 60-year-old native of Scotland. Especially since traffic is picking up in Oakville these days. Whittaker, who expects to retire in less than five years, admits to the occa sional surge of so-called road rage, but says he always keeps his cool. "You're serving the pub lic, there's no use getting upset," said the father of two grown sons! The former Oakville res ident who now calls Burlington home signed up with O akville Transit in January 1975. "I used to drive in Toronto, with the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission). I drove most ly streetcars on Queen Street, King Street and Dundas Street," he said. After five years, W hittaker applied to Oakville Transit and scored a job. "I thought I'd died and gone to heaven," he said. By 1980, he'd signed on with Care-A-Van. It's not a regular bus traveling a regular route. Rather, it's a van operated more like a group taxi service for elderly or physically challenged rid ers who qualify for the service. "I prefer to do that. I really enjoy the people," said Whittaker. "Every day is different for me. That's a lovely benefit to it." Although he meets people with "very, very ^serious disabilities," Whittaker is impressed that they maintain a "very positive attitude." "They're lovely people and they're very thankful for this service," he said. Whittaker is also popular with his daily com muters. "When you're picked up by Tommy, you're in the best of hands and you know that he'll never let you down," said rider Keith Johnson. "He's someone that I look forward to seeing and I know he'll always brighten my day. A ride with Tommy is more than just a ride -- it's a time filled with laughter and lively discussion." While Whittaker said the people back at headquarters are essential, they feel the same way about him. "Tom is a special driver. H e's spectacular with the seniors, has unbelievable patience and always has a kind word for everyone," said Oakville Transit director Eric Pilon. "It's (Tommy's) positive attitude and the pride he takes in his work that has allowed him to win this impressive award," said Johnson -- one o f many people who are grateful that Whittaker is a safe driver. Last year, Oakville's three Care-A-Van vehi cles carried more than 20,000 passengers. & OAK-LAND F O R D L IN C O L N 570 Tra fa lg a r Road 'F ina nce Cash Purchase or Lease Program s are not com binable. Financing 4.9% on Focus Sedan or Wagon, .9% on Taurus Sedan o r Wagon, 0% on W indstar, m axim um 48 m onths O.A.C. Purchase price includes factory to dealer credit, Focus $500, Taurus $1500, W indstar $2000. 36-m onth RCL 20,000 km allow ance per year. Down paym ent on Focus $2735, Taurus $4048 plus $1000 RCL cash, W indstar $2868. All paym ents and down paym ents plus taxes. Prices do not include freight Focus $730, Taurus $895, W indstar $945 O.A.C. See dealer for details. J O akville AT TH E Q.E.W . a sa . 8 4 4 -3 2 7 3 w w w .o a k - la n d .c o m XI ^ M a rc h 23 rd to " Forensic specialist at next Canadian Club meeting A former forensic expert for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is the guest speaker at the next Canadian Club of Oakville dinner meeting on March 28.. Gerald Kupferschmidt, who once worked for the (RCMP) Forensic Laboratories, will speak about Information Protection. Kupferschmidt also belongs to the Chemical Institute of Canada, the Canadian Society of Forensic Science, and the American Academy of Forensic Science. Currently, Kupferschmidt provides consultation to industry, government, lawyers, insurance agencies and individuals on toxicology and general chemi cal, analytical and forensic programs. He worked with the RCMP from 1971 to 1985 and boasts more than 28 years of experience as a forensic toxicology expert witness. Kupferschmidt will speak on information protection and the political, moral and social ramifications. Kupferschmidt has investigated several information-gathering systems and will address the implications of uncontrolled activity in this area. The meeting is at the Ramada Inn on Oakville Drive. There will be a cash bar at 6 p.m. and a dinner at 7 p.m.Cost for members is $27.50 and $37.50 for non-members. For more information call 845-2862. ® PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE COLLECTION * Floor models - 6 suites to go! W e 'r e u p g r a d in g o u r f lo o r d is p la y . T a k e a d v a n t a g e o f th is o n e t im e o f f e r to b u y th e b e s t o f P e n n s y lv a n ia H o u s e a t lo w e s t p ric e s e v e r. 'I J . V If Is f J T IT I D \ T T C T t I / I T T M V P ^ 1 M ississauga H o m e & D e sig n C enter 2575 Dundas St. W,, Mississauga, O nt. L 5K 2M 6 Mon-Wed 10-6 · Thu-Fri 10-9 · Sat 10-6 · Sun 12-5 r u m N i j n i r N v j j 9 0 5 - 5 6 9 -6 0 0 0 * F a x 9 0 5 - 5 6 9 -0 1 5 3 H O M E & BUSINESS w w w .ric h w a y fu rn is h in g s .c o m