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OAKVILLE'S BEST REAL ESTATE SECTION INSIDE! Beaver THE OAKVILLE A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 47 No. 148 United Way tops its goal By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Time to honour those United Way of Oakville (UWO) pledges and make good on the $3.5-million tally announced yesterday at the close of the annual campaign. This year's effort exceeded by more than $123,000 its $3.4 million goal set in September. "You have collectively said `yes' and added to the quality of life of this community," said the United Way of Oakville's 2008 campaign chair Ann Mulvale. "But we need donors to deliver on their commitment." The money generated from thousands of people and hundreds of business is channelled to 30 local human and social service agencies that support families, seniors and those in crisis, promoting wellbeing, independence and self-sufficiency in all of them. The funds also bolster professional development for staff and volunteers in the non-profit sector. "It was generous hearts who made one more call, one more pitch, turned over one more rock and said `Would you like to be part of the United Way,'" added Mulvale, who is staying on as the 2009 Campaign Cabinet Chair. This determined crew was among the 15 businesses, individuals and organizations awarded at Inside Living...........................................16 Artscene.......................................36 Sports...........................................42 Classified.....................................45 Full Delivery: Sport Chek, Sport Mart, JYSK, Bed and Bath, Team Honda, Nikon, The Bay, Ho-Lee Chow, National Sports, Nevada Bob's, Mark's Work Wearhouse, Party Packagers, Rabba Fine Foods, Sheridan Nurseries, Shopping News, Forever Young Partial Delivery: Black's Photo, Sears, Henry's Camera, Golf Town, Bouclair, Staples, Rona Cashway, Fitness Depot, Danier Leather For home delivery & customer service call (905) 845-9742 Mon., Tues. and Thurs. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Wed. 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Fri. 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat 10 a.m.-3 p.m. NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS call (905) 845-9742 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com See inside today's paper for special subscription offer. VISIT OUR ALL NEW WEBSITE www.oakvillebeaver.com 30 years of choral conducting ARTSCENE 321 Cornwall Rd. 321 Cornwall Rd. 321 CornwallRd. Old O k ill M k Olde Oakville Market Olde OakvilleMarket 905.815.8777 905.815.8777 PAUL FOLEY AMP MORTGAGE AGENT Purchases Renewals Refinances Rental Properties Credit Lines 40+ Lenders HO: 100-480 University Ave. Toronto, ON M5G 1V2 *OAC, E&OE M08005472 1 YR 4.35% 4 YR 5.15% 5 YR 5.19% 905-827-8009 "Using Communication To Build Better Communities" WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2008 76 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) DAVID RITCHIE / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER NO ONE INJURED: Oakville firefighters had their work cut out for them when a blaze ripped through a home on Dunwoody Drive early Sunday morning. No one was injured in the fire, though the aftermath saw the home and property coated in ice thanks to the water. Blaze destroys home on Dunwoody By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF See UWO page 7 A Dunwoody Drive homeowner is breathing a sigh of relief that no one was injured in an early Sunday morning fire that caused more than $500,000 in damages to the family home. "Our family is all fine, that's all we care about right now. We're not worrying about the stuff," said homeowner Susan Sabine. Sabine and her husband, John, returned to the site of the fire on Monday where an effort is currently underway to properly secure what remains of their home and to discover what started the blaze. The home suffered extreme fire damage. The windows have been boarded up and a huge hole can be seen punched through the roof, revealing where the fire broke through. The work of the firefighters, who arrived on the scene early Sunday morning, can also be seen as water from the fire hoses turned nearby trees into icy sculptures. "They think the fire started in the furnace room," said Sabine. "It spread really, really fast." Sabine said she, John, their daughter, Alex, and the two family dogs were staying at their lake house located near Sarnia when the fire occurred. Her son, Douglas, and two of his friends were in the house when the fire started in the basement at around 4:45 a.m. "Fortunately, my son is a chef and he works late hours, but he was just about to go to bed when he got a call from our security system," said Sabine. "Their sensors, or whatever, were reading something toxic and they asked him to go have a look. So, he went down a level towards the furnace and he saw flames." Wasting no time, Douglas got his two friends out of the house See Fire page 10 SERVING OAKVILLE FOR 25 YEARS! 175 Wyecroft Rd. Oakville 905.845.6653 Between Kerr & Dorval Optimize Performance (Adults and Children) · Attention span is short · Difficulty organizing & completing work · also helpful for Asperger's · also Psycho-educational testing ADD Centre YOUR FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS! Neurofeedback and learning strategies can provide a lasting improvement. Director: Lynda M. Thompson, Ph.D., Co-author with Pediatrician William Sears of The A.D.D. Book: New Understandings, New Approaches to Parenting Your Child. www.lockwoodchrysler.com 905-803-8066 www.addcentre.com