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Tuesday, December 21, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER C3 Lighting the neighbourhood Lighting from 1,000 luminaries at curbside in Fairway Hills has become a Christmas Eve tradition in North Oakville. For a ninth year, the luminaries - 1,000 candles, each set in about two inches of sand at the bottom of a brown paper lunch bag, will be distrib uted by the Fairway Hills Community Association, said organizer Gerry Sibbald. The cost of luminaries is covered by the association. Sibbald and his wife Marlene take charge of organizing this annual event and ask their neighbours to line the street in front of their homes with luminaries. There are about 100 homes in the neighborhood. "But some people aren't here and others don't celebrate Christmas," he explains. "If someone is not here, we ask a neighbor to light the candles. This way the chain is not broken." From about 5:30 to 8:30_p.m., this neighbourhood at Fairway Hills Boulevard off Dorval Drive at Monastery Drive is visited by a steady stream of cars whose occupants want to enjoy the lights. For best viewing, drivers are encouraged to turn off their headlights. The luminaries tradition was originally brought to Fairway Hills by a resident who moved to Oakville from the United States. Children at the Oakville-Trafalgar Child Care Centre recently enjoyed a visit from Santa. C hristm as through a child's eyes Our last Christmas for this century about Christmas. has quickly arrived and with great Some of the responses may delight anticipation for most. you: I've spent this month in crowded malls, looking for deals. The only deal What is Christmas? I did get was two-for-one on grey hair. A holiday. My four-year-old and two-year-old Don't know, but has a tree. obviously had no interest in shopping, When Santa gives presents. but good Ol' Saint Nick was waiting Wintertime. for little visitors. The excitement that registered on my children's faces Who is Santa? when they saw Santa Claus was clear The guy who dresses up. ly a Kodak moment. My mom. As adults we consume ourselves The guy who brings the toys. with all that needs to be done to pre A worker that works with Mrs. pare for the holidays. We sometimes Claus. lose sight of the pure excitement and A spirit. joy that comes so naturally and inno He is a man that gives out presents. cently to young children. He is Saint Nil, am I correct? I am fortunate enough to see the holiday season through the eyes of What is a Mistletoe? many of Oakville's young children in It's a kind of plant. You kiss under the YMCA Child Care Centres. it. They have been very busy this It means to jump. month practising their festive songs to For your toes, it helps them feel sing in front of their parents, and mak better. ing special gifts for moms and dads A kind of holly you hang on the and numerous decorations to take front door. home for the refrigerator. Teachers at both River Oaks and How does Santa come down the Pilgrim Wood YMCA Child Care Cen Chimney? tres took Group Time one step further, With his magic nose. by asking children a few questions He uses magic to make him skinny. Sometimes he twinkles his nose to go down the Chimney. He goes poof! Slides with the wind. Climbs with his feet. Goes on the roof and goes down. He's magic. He slides down. How do Reindeer fly? Because Rudolf has a shiny nose that clicks. They fly with their feet. Because they are magic. Because they have wings. As I see my own children proudly standing by the refrigerator that has more decorations than my Christmas tree, I remember the line in Santa Clause starring Tim Allan, "Seeing Isn't Believing, Believing Is Seeing." The eyes of the children have reminded me of the wonder of this holiday and the joy it brings to so many people. My fellow YMCA Child Care Staff members and I wish every one a moment to see the magic of the Season through a child's eyes. Have a safe and happy holiday sea son! This article was submitted By Tere sa Rinaldi, Centre Supervisor, YMCA o f Oakville. C an ad ian Hand M a d e Lam b Skin Slippers W om en's Sizes 5-11 M e n 's 7-13 The Foot S hoppe 2465 Yonge Street, Toronto · (416)481-4111 337 Lakeshore Rd. E,, O akville · (905) 844-FOOT (3668) Store Hours: M on., Tues.. W ed. 10 a.m . - 6 p.m . · Thurs., Fri. 10 a.m . - 8 p.m . Sat. 10 a.m . - 6 p.m . · Sun. closed Give a conservation Christmas gift Halton: Rising, Wild and Beckoning is a photographic may not be aware. book that not only makes a great Christmas gift for anyone Halton: Rising, Wild and Beckoning retails for $39.95 living or visiting Halton, but also one that gives to conser and is available in bookstores throughout Halton. vation. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be used to There is also a Limited Millennium Edition of the book renovate and enhance the visitor centre at the Mountsberg that has a gold embossed sleeve and is personally signed by Conservation Area located near Campbellville, Ontario. Canadian Astronaut Dr. Bondar, who is a contributor in the The regional best seller was published by the Conserva book and currently is patron for the Mountsberg Visitor tion Halton Foundation, a volunteer group that has been Centre fund-raising campaign. This special edition cost is raising funds for conservation since 1975. Since October $75 and is only available from The Conservation Halton 1998, more than 7,000 copies have been sold. Foundation. - .1 The book has 160 spectacular photographs that show the For more information on the book, call the Foundation natural landscapes that interface with Burlington, Oakville, at 336-1156, Ext. 255. Milton, Halton Hills, and other communities in the water shed. More than 15,500 hectares of conservation lands protect unique geological features and environmentally sensitive habitats in areas such as Hilton Falls, Crawford Lake, Rat tlesnake Point, Bronte Creek Provincial Park, and the Royal Botanical Gardens. From archaeological sites and a rare meromictic lake to the ancient cedars of Ontario's oldest m gE m growth forest, the book describes a treasure trove of fasci nating places. The book also includes 16 coloured maps showing scenic drives and trails that can be used as a field guide to find and explore natural areas. The wild charm of Halton's conservation lands has been captured in all seasons by 32 talented photographers who together, have created an intimate view of the watershed of which even the most knowledgeable residents and visitors ' An idea whose time has come. *% ## www.HaRonSearch.com 2 PRE-CHRISTMAS STORE WIDE SALE & Gjolf6 jIff Ideas! Green Fee Gift Certificates The perfect gift for your golfer "A s s o c ia te M e m b e rs h ip Golf Bags 1999 models on sale and save the taxes $299" Save $ 1 2 off regular priced greenfees. Call for details. Pull C arts REG. $89.99 now only Best-selling show Even before the end of its run The King and I has become the best-selling show, with the highest attendance of any Family Holiday Musical ever at Hamilton's Theatre Aquarius. Oakville actors Barb and Jennifer Slater are cast mem bers of this production of The King and I, one of Rodgers and Hammerstein's most spectacular productions. "We have already sold 1,200 more tickets than the pre vious best-selling show, Oliver; and there are still eight per formances left," exclaims Managing Artistic Director Max Reimer. "I knew that this particular story was hot this year. But this response is amazing." The King and I will continue in the Irving Zucker The atre of the du Maurier Ltd. Centre, 190 King William St., Hamilton, until Dec. 26th. (No performance on Dec. 25th.) Evening performances begin at 7 p.m.; matinees begin at 1 p.m. There are still single tickets available for some performances and some tickets for the Dec. 24th matinee. Tickets range from $31 to $39 for Sunday to Friday evening performances ($25 to $33 for students and seniors) and from $35 to $45 for Saturday evenings ($29 to $39 for students and seniors). Matinees are $24 to $35; seniors and students are $18 to $29. Children aged 16 and under are $19 for all performances. For tickets, call the box office at 1- 800-465-7529. $ 4 9 .9 9 Golf Gloves Buy 1 and Get 2nd at 1 / 2 Price - / Shirts REG. $5 9 .9 9 50% off 2 for $ 5 0 .0 0 IMGCOA Golf Dis^ count Books IMash Pants REG. $ 1 2 9 .9 9 now only 2 $ 3 9 .9 5 Over $ 5 0 0 0 in Savings $ 6 9 .9 9 for $ 9 9 .9 9 From Fashionable Children's Wear O / m K J / a j SHERWAY | GARDENS 5 Prece t EV i ails F ro m Golf Balls $ 1 6 .9 9 $ 2 9 .9 9 p er dozen p e r dozen Spalding Plus & SQ U A R E O N E SHOPPING CENTRE Hi d c in a k e G olf Clut) M O N -W E D 9 -5 » THURS & F R I 9 -8 * SAT 9 -5 · SU N 10-5 (905) 279-4080 (416) 622-6658 C905J3 3 6 - 3 6 6 0