OAKVILLE'S BEST REAL ESTATE SECTION INSIDE! Beaver THE OAKVILLE N O RT H A M E R I C A' S M O S T AWA R D E D C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R A Metroland Publication Vol. 44 No. 127 Here's mud in your eye BLOOD SPORT: Oakville Crusaders player Harry Cheung, bloodied moments earlier, lets out a celebratory yell after his team scored a try during Saturday's McCormick Cup rugby semifinal game at Crusader Park. See Sports for the story. w w w . l o c k w o o d c h r y s l e r. c o m 175 Wyecroft Road, Oakville 905.845.6653 (between Kerr & Dorval) www.oakvillebeaver.com Countdown to Municipal Election 2006 12 PAGES INSIDE 321 Cornwall Rd. Old Oakville Market 905.815.8777 "USING COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES" WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2006 76 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Goodbye, Wilma Veteran community editor is retiring to New Brunswick By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER Since Aug. 11 1975, Oakville has been Wilma Blokhuis' beat. Now, after 31 years and two months with The Oakville Beaver, the veteran community editor is retiring, packing her bags and moving to New Brunswick. On Friday, she'll file her last story, read her last e-mail, lay out her last Community Update page and drive away from The Oakville Beaver's Speers Road office for the last time. Blokhuis admits she doesn't know how she's going to do that. "How do you say goodbye?" she said, smiling. "I don't know." While she's covered beats including politics, crime and entertainment over the years, it's the human interest stories, profiles and features that shed light on Oakville's residents and organizations that Blokhuis is bestknown for. But after 31 years, the native of Holland says she's "ready for a change." "I've always wanted to retire early, and even thought I would retire at 50," she said. The second-youngest in a family of nine, Blokhuis is just five years past that mark. "It's Freedom 55," she said, smiling. "After 31 years, I'm so used to doing this that it'll be an enormous change in my life, but a welcome one. I'm living my dream." After renting for years in Oakville, Blokhuis now owns her "first little house" near St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, a resort town. Wilma Blokhuis Inside Living.....................................11 Automotive ..........................12 Artscene................................31 Sports....................................39 Classified .............................43 Full Delivery: Mark's Work Warehouse, Stoney Creek Furniture Partial Delivery: Sport Chek, FM Windows, Bruce Jones, XS Cargo, City Parent, Guardian Drugs, Oakville Little League, Party Packagers, Salvation Army, Staples Business Depot, Home Depot, Petsmart, Panago Pizza, DELIVERY For home delivery & customer service call 905-845-9742 Mon., Tues., & Thurs. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wed. & Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. or Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. For new subscriptions, call 905-845-9742 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com I Will Sell Your Home For Food... FIND OUT HOW! call: (905)338-3737 BILL Sales Representative TERRY www.iwillsellyourhomeforfood.ca See Wilma page 3 Over 30 million oil changes since 1976 COMMANDER THE LOCKWOOD REWARDS CARD INCLUDED WITH EVERY PURCHASE FOR 30 YEARS 345 SPEERS RD, OAKVILLE 905 842 9299 490 DUNDAS ST. WEST, OAKVILLE 905 257 8353 VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.MRLUBE.COM FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF LOCATIONS 15 OFF % Any oil and oil filter change package Offer applies to any oil change package and must be presented at the time of service. Not valid with any other oil change service discount or coupon. Valid at participating locations. Prices may vary at Mr. Lube locations. Not valid for fleet card customers. CODE 9945 EXPIRES 11/04/06 REG. T.M. MR. LUBE CANADA INC. FRANCHISEE AUTHORIZED USER