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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, A ug us t 8, 20 19 | 6 I invite you to join my family and I at our 1st Annual Crawford Family Picnic. It's sure to be fun for the whole family! - Free Food - Bouncy Castle - Face Painting - Music and more!!! Everybody is Welcome! RSVP: stephen.crawfordco@pc.ola.org 1453 North service road, West oakville, oN l6M 2W2 lexusofoakville.ca 905.847.8400 • 1.866.lexus.66 ^Delivery Credits are available on retail purchase/lease of select new 2019/2020 Lexus vehicles from Lexus of Oakville and will be applied after taxes have been charged on the full amount of the negotiated price. Vehicle must be purchased/leased, registered and delivered by September 3rd, 2019. *Lease offers provided through Lexus Financial Services, on approved credit. *Representative lease example based on a 2019 IS 300 AWD sfx 'G' on a 39 month term at an annual rate of 0.9% and Complete Lexus Price of $52,356. Bi-weekly lease payment is $228 with $5,330 down payment or equivalent trade in, $0 security deposit and first bi-weekly lease payment due at lease inception. Total of 84 bi-weekly lease payments required during the lease term. Total lease obligation is $24,387. 52,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.20/km for excess kilometres. Complete Lexus Price includes freight/PDI ($2,075), EHF Tires ($20.70), EHF Filters ($1), A/C charge ($100), and OMVIC Fee ($10). Taxes, license, registration (if applicable), dealer fees (if applicable) and insurance are extra. Lexus of Oakville is free to set their own prices. Limited time offers only apply to retail customers at participating Lexus Dealers. Dealer order/trade may be required (but may not be available in certain circumstances). Offers are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Offers are effective beginning August 1st and expire on September 3rd unless extended or revised. Visit Lexus of Oakville, lexusofoakville.ca, or email sales@lexusofoakville.ca for complete details. GAIN A NEW PERSPECTIVE FiNd NeW Places With a leXUs eeXPerieNce aMaziNgXPerieNce aMaziNg RX LEXUS IS lease aPr 0.9%*39 MoNths Bi-WeeklY lease PaYMeNt FroM $228*doWN PaYMeNt $5,330* deliverY credits oF UP to $4,000^ IS 2019 IS 300 AWD F sPort 2019 IS 300 AWD F SPORT Series 1 Advocates say intensive autism therapy can cost up to $80,000 per year. The Ford government's previous plan said that children under six were eli- gible to receive $20,000 an- nually in direct funding, while those six and over were eligible to receive on- ly $5,000 annually. "My message to families of children and youth with autism is, we have heard you, and we are taking ac- tion," said Smith in a press release. "Our government is committed to a needs- based program that pro- vides children and youth with the supports they need to thrive. Over the past number of weeks, I have met with service pro- viders and families of chil- dren with autism who share a common goal to provide the best possible care and make a positive difference in the lives of children and families liv- ing with autism in Onta- rio." The new plan will not be in place until April 2020. ErinoakKids previously assured the community that it will be retaining suf- ficient staff to continue to meet the needs of both fam- ilies currently receiving service, and those who would like to purchase ser- vices as they receive their childhood budgets. NEWS Continued from page 5 STORY BEHIND THE STORY Following the Ford government's announcement, we approached ErinoakKids to see if this would impact recently announced layoffs. NEW PLAN WON'T BE IN PLACE UNTIL APRIL Once again, the Hamil- ton Amateur Astrono- mers will open the gates at Binbrook Conserva- tion Area to hold its annu- al free Perseid meteor shower public night on Friday, Aug. 9 from 8-11 p.m. The event is taking place at 5050 Harrison Rd. in Binbrook and has al- ways been a crowd-pleas- er, drawing a record 919 visitors last year. Al- though the meteor show- er peaks Aug. 12 and 13, you should be able to see a good showing on Aug. 9. It's not always a good year to watch the annual Perseid meteor shower show. Unfortunately, this will be one of those years since the moon will wash out most of the faint mete- ors. If you plan to attend, you don't need a tele- scope, just a lot of curios- ity. You should bring a blanket, groundsheet or lounge chair, because ly- ing down under the sum- mer sky is the preferred method to enjoy the cos- mic show. Even though it won't be the best year to watch me- teors, you'll probably see the brighter ones, listen to a night sky tour and gaze through telescopes. Mosquitoes can be nasty at this time of year, so ap- ply repellent, wear pants and a long-sleeved shirt. The club will also be collecting non-perishable food or cash donations onfood or cash donations onf behalf of Hamilton Food Share, and any help you can give would be appre- ciated. The event may be cancelled due to poor weather conditions, so check the club's website at amateurastrono- my.org before leaving home. Here are August star- gazing events, which are listed in the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers calendar. Aug. 9: Jupiter is close to the moon in the eve- ning sky. Mercury is at its greatest elongation and will be a great time to see the elusive plant as a morning star in the pre- dawn sky just before twi- light. Aug. 11: Saturn close to the moon in the eve- ning sky. Aug. 24: The crescent moon is in the Hyades cluster in the predawn sky. Aug. 28: The crescent moon is in the Beehive cluster at dawn. Aug. 30: The close new moon will bring high tides. For more information, see the Hamilton Ama- teur Astronomers web- site (amateurastrono- my.org) or call 905-627- 4323. The club offers a ba- sic astronomy course for members. Mario Carr is the HAA's director of pub- licity and can be reached at mariocarr@cogeco.ca or on Twitter (@MarioC- Carr). FREE METEOR SHOWER EVENT AT BINBROOK CONSERVATION AREA OPINION BIG CROWD EXPECTED TO SEE SHOW, WRITES MARIO CARR MARIO CARR Column