w w w .oak villeb eaver.com Ic u sto m u p h o lstc n 'ltd For the finest in CU STO M U PH O L STER IN G call Baier s. Makers of fine upholstered furniture. rs 2 3 3 3 W H * R « A (b o u rn B r o n te & T h ird L in e )1905)827-2681 Fantasy prequel OT triumphs, ^ set in Canada United Way wins Focus T h e arts WEDNESDAY, SEPTEM BER 26,2001 Mercedes-Benz 5 ^ P a g e ^ ^ e n fc ^ D ^ ^ S ^ A Metroland Publication Vol. 39 No. 115 S a lv a tio n By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Summer donations to the Salvation Army are down so much that resources have reached "critical levels," says Community Services Co-ordinator Tim Howlett. If contributions don't pick up in the near future, he adds,, the Arm y's Oakville Community Church may be A r m y in d ir e s tr a its back on their feet," said Howlett. "If we can get people to see that they aren't alone, that bad times don't last forever and that they are part o f a community that really does care for them, then w e've already done half the job." With donations down, however, the agency is "eating up our savings very quickly," says Howlett. (See `More' page A2) Programs and services in jeopardy as donations fall forced to cut back, or even cancel, some services. "It isn't unusual for funding to be low through the summer months as people go on vacations and get out of town. It seems to be the time when peo ple think about themselves and their families," said Howlett. "As we get into fall, I hope that donations will pick up." Salvation Army staff and their com munity partners provide many worth while programs designed to equip indi viduals with the life skills necessary to thrive in the community while helping to alleviate social, economic and spiri tual concerns. The Lighthouse, for example, is Oakville's first overnight emergency shelter for the homeless. Other pro grams include a free legal advice clinic, anger management classes, parenting classes, weekly family dinner program, emergency food and clothing and more. "More often than not we are seeing people in our office who have had their spirits crushed and are just look ing for someone to help them get R e s id e n ts d o n a te d $ 3 9 ,0 0 0 to h e lp a id N e w Y o rk fir e fig h te r s By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Last weekend's boot drive to aid the families of New York City emer gency workers was a lesson in "extreme generosity," says a spokesman for the Oakville Professional Firefighters Association. According to Captain Rick Barrett, the running total from the special fundraising initiative stood around $39,000 at press time astounding results, he says, in light of the short duration of the drive, which took place only Friday evening then Saturday and Sunday at several retail locations. "The public was so great," said Barrett. "We're so grateful for the generosity of the people of Oakville." Uniformed firefighters were at the following locations carrying a boot into which the public placed money with funds going to the New York 911 Relief Fund: Oakville Place, Oakville Town Centre I, Hopedale Mall and the Canadian Tire stores at Dundas St. and Hwy. 403 plus Dundas at Trafalgar Road. "We did really well. It was a real ly good thing," said Barrett. "Everyone gave, from seniors to chil dren from their piggy banks." Residents can still donate during this Saturday's kick-off to Fire Prevention Week which takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fire Department's Oakville Training Campus for Emergency Excellence. The kick-off will include fire safe ty games, a classic pumper, fire hose and extinguisher training, bum house demonstrations, an appearance by Sparky and more. The state-of-the-art campus, located at 1144 South Service Road is unique in that it offers trainees exposure to a variety of real life set tings they will likely encounter on the job. This is accomplished through replicated streetscapes (with every thing from working stop lights, hydro poles and even a level railway cross ing) plus tanker cars, a spill/rescue pond and much more. Over two years in the making, the site's most impressive feature is the training tower or "bum house" which incorporates the features of a highrise apartment building, a single family home and an industrial unit. For more information, call 3384404. Photo by Bar. ie Erskine Paul Gatt and one of the trees he convinced the Town of Oakville to save after he learned a row of the old trees were to be cut down to make way for a new sewer line. A little adjustment and the trees were spared from the chain saw. Home owner's quick action saves oak trees from chainsaw By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Last week Oakville resident Paul Gatt began to wonder why his street bore the name Arbourview Drive if all the trees, especially some old oak trees, were going to be cut down. The West Oak Trails resident hap pened to be at home early in the week when he said he heard "chain saws firing up." To his horror, trees began disappear ing behind his home that's located just west of Third Line, north of Upper Middle Road. "It got me very excited," admitted Gatt, who immediately sprang into action. First, the resident of four years said he "convinced the guys with the chain saws to take a break." Then he said he got on the telephone, fast, to the Town of Oakville. After a conversation with Mayor Ann Mulvale, he said Town engineers were promptly out at the site to take a look. Town planning director Ted Salisbury confirmed it. "Myself and several other staff are working with the owner of the property. We had staff out on site and work was halted to give consideration to how we can relocate the sewer," said Salisbury. Negotiations were still underway as of Monday, but Salisbury, who noted that what's at stake are a handful of oak trees, said, "Things are looking up so it is a good news story." That's how Gatt sees it. `T he Town was quite co-operative, so I was quite impressed," said a satisfied Gatt who will continue to view seven large trees, including one huge old oak tree that he estimates is about 100 years old, from his home on Arbourview. "They (the Town) listened to me. They've gone to bat for me, and gone to the developer and told them not to saw down those trees," said Gatt. "They're (the Town) sending over one of their engineers to see if they can put the water sewer trunk a bit further to the west within the existing right-of-way so it may be possible to leave the trees," said Gatt. The trees are right on the property line so it may be possible to put the sewer line at the far side without re-designing it, said the resident. "It looks like even if they can't fit it in within the existing right-of-way, they're going to move the right-of-way," said Gatt. "There are about seven old trees left. A couple don't look the greatest, but they're willing to leave them here as a bird sanctuary and leave me room to put other trees along that ridge," said Gatt. Though many small trees were removed, Gatt said the lot behind him is being serviced on its way to becoming a high school so he has to take what he can get. Gatt hopes to plant smaller trees that should eventually grow to replace the older ones when they die. It should be a nice transition between the homes and a ravine-like area and the future high school, said Gatt. Young thief made off with bike as woman looked on helplessly An Oakville woman is asking the public's help in locating her bicycle, which was stolen from an area school right before her eyes. According to Sandra Lam, she rode her expensive, 27-speed bike to River Oaks Public School on Thursday around 3:15 p.m. to speak to one of her children's teachers. She left the "high-tech looking," $1,000 mountain bike unlocked outside a portable classroom with one of her children keeping an eye on it. This child became impatient and came inside so Lam, who could see part of one wheel by the door, started to go back outside. Lam said she took her eyes off the wheel for a second - then it was gone. Lam ran out after her burgundy red bike only to see a young man, aged 12 to 13 years old, riding off with it. "I was yelling and running after him through the school yard and onto River Oaks Boulevard," said Lam, who tried to enlist the help of several motorists, only one of whom stopped. By then, the boy and her bike were gone. Lam contacted the police and her insurance company and is now asking for help from anyone who may have information about the theft. If so, call Howard Mozel at the Oakville Beaver at 845-3824 ext. 249. in s id e today's paper Editorials. Focus. Classified. Sports...-., Business. Automotive ..... _____ ,,_____ M -B1 _______ C5 __ ,...D1 ___ .________ D5 __ 08 Photo by Barrie Erskine Frances Clayton donates some money to Oakville firefighter Roger Lauzon from Station 3. The firefighters were at Oakville Place raising money for the families of their New York City counterparts who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 World Trade Center disaster. Special Supplements: H ome delimy: Partydfy Blood donor clin ic at River Oaks A blood donor clinic will be held today at the River Oaks Community Church, 2435 Munn's Ave., to help meet an ongoing need. Blood is used to treat cancer, people injured in accidents, help heal bum vic tims, and during major public crises such as the recent terrorist attacks in the United States. The clinic will be open from 1 to 7 p.m., by appointment only. Call 1-8882DONATE to book a time. P arta/delivery: H aiton Vacuum , filbert's C arpel. The S a y . Caslrny, G ino'sPizza. H ome D epot, Revy Horn. FJure Shop. 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