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

wednesasay M ay 13, zu u i I H h O A K V lL L h B h A V t K Walk, run on June 10 to support cancer hospice th e a g e b a r r ie r A J iu J its u b la c k b e lt a t 77, D e n n is H a l l d o e s n 't se e h im s e lf a s a n o d d ity By H ow ard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Dennis Hall is living proof you're never too old to achieve what's in your heart. Hall, 77, recently earned his second degree black belt in Jiu Jitsu and is the pride of not only his family but also the students of all ages at his dojo (school). In 1938, Hall joined the Royal Navy and served throughout the war from the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans to North Africa and the Normandy Invasion. It was during this time that he was exposed to martial arts and also boxed. After coming to Canada in 1949, he served with the Canadian Air Force for a year before transferring to the Canadian Navy. In 1972 Hall retired with the rank of Captain, after having served on a total of 16 ships. Hall's real interest in martial arts started in 1977 at age 53 when he began learning Jiu Jitsu at the Oakville YMCA in order to stay in shape. Not one for team sports, Hall said this out let provided a chance to look into him self for the strength to succeed. "You achieve what you want to achieve," said Hall, who exceeded his expectations and earned his brown belt in 1982. "W hen I started in Jiu Jitsu I just felt if I could get my green belt that would be something." After holding his brown belt for eight years, Hall was encouraged by a Milton sensei (teacher) to strive for his black belt. In 1990 he did just that. "It felt great," he says. "Sixty-seven Dennis Hall strikes a pose (above) and in action (below). teaching skills in order to pass on his knowledge to other students. "I was on the mat every day," he said. Then the big day: Sunday, April 29, the time when Hall went before the Canadian Jiu Jitsu Council in Whitby for grading. This was a grueling 90 minutes the included performing tech niques, kicking, striking, punching, throwing and self defense. "My adrenaline was running and I was pretty focused," said Hall. "I felt pretty good because some of the other people on the mat were half my age and they complained about how tough it was." On the following Tuesday, Hall was notified at his dojo that he passed. "I felt great within myself, but when the confirmation comes it gives you that lift," he said. "Kids were coming up and congratulating me." Hall, who encourages anyone to try martial arts, says he enjoys being an inspiration to other students, young and old. "It doesn't matter what age you are," he says. "Everyone on the mat respects everyone else regardless of age." Hall is still going to classes - where he both learns and teaches - and has at least one more ambition he would like to fulfill. "I have a couple of years to go but I'd like to spend my 80th birthday on the mat," he said. Any thoughts about earning his third degree black belt? `T o even think of a third degree may be a little ambitious," said Hall. "But we'll see in three years time." Mark down Sunday, June 10 on your calendar to take part in this year's special fundraising memorial walk/run to support Ian Anderson House. Registration ($10 each, children free) begins at 10 a.m., followed by the event itself at 11 a.m. Participants can enjoy either a 4 km or 8 km distance. Runners can take advantage o f a special 10-km route. Ian Anderson House is Ontario's first free-standing cancer hospice which provides quality palliative care free of charge in a home-like setting for residents of Halton and Peel. The walk/run starts at 2635 Lakeshore Rd. in M ississauga (where there is also parking) and ends at the hospice, located at 430 W inston Churchill Blvd. in Oakville. For more information and pledge forms, please contact May Lynch at 822-4938, Martin Tebo at 822-7193 or Margaret Summerhayes at 8495852. Participants will enjoy a barbeque after the event on the front lawn o f Ian A nderson House. Hamburgers, hot dogs and refresh ments will be served. Also at the barbeque, first, sec ond and third-place prizes will be awarded to individuals and groups with the most number of pledges and total dollars. Tim e running out to name Bronte Creek bridge There's only one week left for you to name the Rebecca Street bridge now under construction over Bronte Creek. And while the bridge is set to open in September, it still needs a name. Town officials have asked Oakville residents to share their ideas with its Name Selection Committee. On that committee are Mayor Ann Mulvale. Ward 1 Councillors Kevin Flynn and Ralph Robinson, Town man ager Joann Chechalk and Oakville Public Works director Ray Green. Entries must be in by June 1 so they can be reviewed by the committee and presented to town council in June. Submit your suggestions by mail to: Name Selection Committee, c/o Public Affairs & Communications, P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Rd., Oakville ON L6J 5A6; or fax 905-815-2001: or, complete an on-line form available at the Tow n's website at www.town.oakville.on.ca. years of age and I was awarded my black belt." Hall and his wife Joan then set off for Florida where the snowbird enrolled in a Jiu Jitsu dojo to maintain his work outs and studies. His routine outside the gym included a 6:30 a.m. wake-up call, a three-mile run, half an hour of stretch ing - then breakfast. After that. Hall would run his exercise program for about 100 other seniors at the trailer park. "One winter I wore out three pairs of running shoes," he laughs. For someone who originally aspired to a green belt. Hall decided several years ago to go after his second degree black belt. To do so, he put in 16 hours a week on the mat at both the Y and Kick-Jitsu on Wyecroft Road. He also learned First Aid and solidified his OF EACH WEEK'S 10,080 MINUTES, JUST 60 CAN IMPROVE YOUR LIFE! IT HAPPENS EACH SUNDAY IN ST. JOHN'S UNITED CHURCH. EXPERIENCE O U R B E A U TIFU L SAN C TU AR Y. SPIRITS ARE LIFTED. M IN D S ARE C A LM E D . PRAY JO IN US, W O N 'T Y O U ? W E ARE IN D O W N T O W N OAKVILLE AT RANDALL A N D D U N N STREETS. IN FO . LINE 905 845-0551 FAMILY WORSHIP, SUNDAY 10:30 a.m. We've Gone / y 60th Anniversary Edition GRAND CHEROKEE LTD J( CHRYSLER NEON 2001DURANGO SLT PLUS 0% Financing $ LEASE FOR 229 to 60 m o s. PER M0. LEASE FOR r6 9 FOR THIS EVENT ONLY ASK ABOUT $n PER M0. Td w o n t m is s ! T H IS !! 2000 MO0 E L YEAR MODEL STK. # LIST Caravan Sport 29N 579930 $33,300 Caravan Sport 29E 579934 $31,255 Dakota Club 4x4 791043 $33,760 Dakota 4x4 631273 $32,015 Caravan Sport 28N 856617 $33,810 G r. Car. Sport 29N 510536 $34,830 3001V ! 420443 $41,935 FINAL CLEARANCE!! FINALSALE I PRICE | $26,983" · $25,245" $26,681 $25,497 $27,527' $28,386 $32,925 n n v /m & NO PAYMENTS T IL FALL! A ll lease prices are plus taxes, freight, fees, first and security, based on 2 0 ,4 0 0 km per year, Neon based on 6 0 montfi term w ith $9 9 9 dow n, Jeep G rand Cherokee & C aravan SE, Durango based on $ 5 ,0 0 0 dow n, 4 8 month term. S ale p rices re fle c t current facto ry re b ate sand program s plusfreight ta xe s, fe e s, licence."'N oa d d itio n a ic h a n g efo r fre ig tT ta n dairtax 2 0 .4 0 0km sp e ry e a r. o D odge Dodge Trucks CHRYSLER r | M M JJz D O fM O K Y S IH S rMEP i 646 4th Line, Speers Road, Oakville w Speers Rd. (9 0 5 ) 8 4 5 -4 2 1 1