--Speedy-- ant* sarvics M °/o 2nd shock OFF or strut L im ite dtim eo tte r. S e eM a n a g e rto rD e ta ils . 112 Speers Rd., Oakville ust west of Kerr) | Longhorns k ic k o ff a new season Sports Fly-past to h o nou r vets Focus Mercedes-Benz Q.E.W. & Dorval Dr. N O R T H A M E R I C A 'S Vol. 3 9 No. <>l M O S T A W A R D E D C O M M U N I T Y N E W S P A P E R . >12 A M c tro la n d I\jbliCcUion W HDNESl )AV. MAY 2 2 . 2( H)'2 \ \s / . » ( 'c m u s if tit is < ; s i') Threatened school programs hope to survive By Tim Whitnell SPECIAL T O TH E BEAVER Losing school board funding shouldn't sound the immediate death knell for three popular programs for Halton students. However, it likely means organizers of those programs will have to scramble to make up the difference or perhaps scale back what is offered in schools. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) initiative for Grade 6s, and the Celebrating Literacy and Food For Thought snack and breakfast programs for elem entary schools are all poised to lose significant funding. Halton District School Board staff are recommend ing the three programs have their com bined funding removed as a cost-saving measure. The board paid out $125,000 in those areas this school year. Halton police, which administers the DARE pro gram, and the Halton Social Planning Council, which oversees Celebrating Literacy and Food For Thought, are concerned about the school board's intentions and the possible after effects. "When schools have to cut loose a resource like this it is a tragedy. I would say we regret what is happening to education in our communi ty," said planning council executive director Joey Edwardh. "Whatever the reason for it, hungry kids don't learn well," said Edwardh. The Food For Thought program, ironically, expanded by three Halton schools ju st last week, to more than 20 across the region. "Right now, (we) are not an organization that has its own resources, it leverages resources. Very basic fund ing ($90,000 for each of the last two years) was given by the board that allows us to leverage funds in the com munity. That's the chunk that keeps it alive," she said. "We have to turn this challenge back to our com munity. Nobody wants this program to disappear," she said. "We'll convene some meetings and see if we can develop some interim fund ing." The hundreds o f parent volunteers associated with the two programs affected will be notified of the situa tion, said Edwardh. As for the fate of DARE, (See Police' page A5) Jamie Smith · Special to the Oakville Beaver GARDEN SHOPPER: Despite the chilly temperatures on the Victoria Day weekend, it didn't stop some green thumbs from getting the jum p start on their summer gardening. Joanne van Hoofe looks at some potential candidates for her home and garden at Cudmore's on Lakeshore Road West last weekend. Volunteering is second nature By Howard Mozel · OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF West Nile Virus testing under way The Halton Region Health Department began tracking reports of dead birds last week as part of its effort to keep tabs on the West Nile Virus (WNV). Last year in Halton seven birds tested positive for the dis ease but there have been no reported human cases in the region. In late August 2001, health officials confirmed that a dead blue jay found in town was the second bird in Canada known to be infected with the virus. (The first was a dead crow found in Windsor on August 8.) The WNV is transmitted by mosquitoes after they become infected by feeding on the blood of birds carrying the virus. If you find a dead bird - especially crows - do not touch it and call the WNV Line at 905-825-6187. According to Health Canada, most people infected with WNV do not get sick. Those most at risk include those over age 50, the very young and those with weakened immune sys tems. Symptoms -- which can begin three to 15 days following the bite of an infected mosquito -- include mild fever, headache, stiff neck, muscle weakness, skin rashes and (See `Public' page A7) For Oakville's Howard Wills, volunteering seems as effortless as breathing - and just as important. Wills, who turns 72 in July, is a stalwart, 20year supporter of the Salvation Army's Red Shield Appeal and is active in the outreach pro grams of St. Paul's United Church. When asked why he's so dedicated. Wills just shrugs and answers why not? "I'm thankful for the good health I have and when you see the circumstances of others you see the wider picture of the community," said Wills, who was bom in China and lived in Australia and England before coming to Canada. "The needs are out there and they need an extra hand or two." Wills first started knocking on doors for the Salvation Army in 1983. A year later he was a zone leader and eventually became an area cap tain. Today he oversees almost 100 routes and canvasses 10 of them himself. "You get a satisfaction that you can be a means of making people feel that this is a safe place for people to live," he said. Wills believes the Salvation Army's niche in Oakville is an important one, especially its efforts to establish the Lighthouse homeless shelter. Wills was a member of the United Church when he lived in Toronto and when he saw its Howard Wills outreach efforts first-hand he realized that the institution was not just about worship and fel lowship. Before long he became involved in a young adults group, helped the needy at Christmas and lent a hand with charity events. At the same time, Wills was also exposed to the valuable work done by the Salvation Army. A couple of friends - "living ambassadors" for the Sally Ann - also impressed him. When he and his wife first moved to Oakville in 1982, they noticed an ad in the paper for a New Year's Eve service at the Oakville Citadel dur ing which the couple was made to feel very welcome. The next year at Red Shield time, Wills gladly volunteered to help. At the same time, Wills was also embraced by St. Paul's United Church and over the years he has lent his energies to its efforts as well. One program that is dear to Wills' heart is the breakfast club at Morden Public School where he volunteers three times a week. Started four years ago, the initiative attracts about 40 chil dren at a time now. "Kids need some nourishment inside them," says Wills, who encourages more volunteers to help out. Wills is also a St. Paul's Board member, a past president of its former men's group and a current member of the church's national men's organization. With such strong ties to the United Church, Wills has never seriously con sidered becoming a Salvation Army officer, preferring instead to take part in both worlds. "I enjoy them for their different ways of life," said Wills, who also lends a hand at Kerr Street Ministries and is an inveterate hiker. (He helped clear the Bruce Trail when it was creat ed.) Wills - who said he plans to keep volunteer ing as long as he can - encourages anyone with some time to give to help out where they can. "All you need is the willingness to be called on when there's a need," he said. Same sex prom date case garners mixed opinions C a t h o lic b o a rd c a u g h t b e tw e e n c h u rc h v a lu e s a n d in d iv id u a l r ig h t s the board did not intervene. But one important distinction between that situation and the recent one in Durham, he said, was that in Durham a guest from outside the school was involved. School principals in Halton require notification and set rules about outside guests coming to school dances. At Burlington's Assumption Secondary School, students seemed to have little to say about the matter - some said they were embarrassed to be quot ed. (See `Mixed' page A4) By Paul Mitchison SPECIAL T O THE BEAVER While the media recently focused on a gay teen's successful fight for the right to take his boyfriend to his Catholic school prom, it seems the event had less of an impact in Halton. The Halton Catholic District School Board has taken no position on the mat ter. Board Director Lou Piovesan spoke with all five local high school principals about the issue and expects no contro versy like the one that had grabbed headlines in Durham Region. "I'm sure that at any given high school dance today there are students who don't come with a date ... two or three students of the same sex come as a group," he said. "We don't treat that any differently than a couple going to a dance." But Piovesan admits there's a split in opinion and a dilemma over respecting individual rights, versus upholding church values. "It's not an easy decision and what ever I say will be criticized by one side or the other," he said. "Our board has not taken a position other than to under- stand the sensi tivities here, and to respect the decision the Durham Catholic District School Board took early on, and we'd also have to be mind ful of the court Lou Piovesan situation." Piovesan said a same-sex couple did come to a high school dance together a few years ago in Halton -- he said he can't recall the specifics -- but recalls Summer Fashion A8 Business......................A12 Focus...........................B1 Artscene...................... B5 Sports......................... BIO Classified.....................B l l Best Wheels................ 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