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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 24, 2008 - 19 He's hoping missing cockatiel will come home Has anyone in Oakville spotted a grey cockatiel in the last month? Oakville resident Pavel Vesely would love to know because it could very likely be the baby cockatiel that Vesely has been raising from birth. "One day a few weeks ago, Aug. 29, Friday morning) I totally forgot she was sitting on my shoulder and stepped out of the house to get our blue box," said Vesely who moved here with his family in 1978. You can guess what happened. "She tested her wings and no more than couple of yards in the air, returned to my shoulder. I realized my mistake and turned to go back in the house. She took off again, and this time she was gone. All in five or six seconds," said Vesely. "I miss her. She used to pull on my lip and if I opened my mouth would stick her whole head inside. I guess looking for food," said Vesely. The north Oakville resident got a pair of cockatiels from a family here in Oakville about a year ago. "The birds, Peaches, the male and Sunshine, the female, had one baby in February and I took up the role of a parent, getting up and feeding the baby every six hours. The baby girl took me for a parent and when out of her cage, never let me out of her sight, getting a ride on my shoulder whenever I let her," said Vesely. The bird did not yet have a name and is described as a regular grey cockatiel about the size of a bluejay. Vesely did report her missing to the Oakville and District Humane Society, but has heard nothing. He also put up posters in his neighbourhood, but has had no news. "If someone has her, they could e-mail me at soutschoorn@gmail.com. To the person who finds her and returns her, I will give brand new cage and a pair of budgies (male and a female)," said Vesely, who best communicates via e-mail as he has a hearing disability. There is also a story to the budgies, too. Vesely got a budgie from a family in Oakville who lost their budgie in the house. The family's two girls were upset so the parents went and bought a replacement, but then the lost budgie, who'd hidden behind some furniture, showed up. Vesely took the replacement bird, a yellow male, who was lonely, so Vesely called the humane society to find a mate and the humane society had a green female budgie up for adoption. "I got her. You should have seen them. It was a love at first sight. I gave them a nest box. The first clutch they raised was seven chicks. They had another clutch of five chicks before I took the nesting box away. I was able to get good homes for all the babies," said Vesely. Amazing Race is on Sunday The Amazing Race Against Time will take place in Oakville this Sunday to raise funds to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. Organized by a group of six recent university graduates, all Oakville natives, led by team leader Gillian Zimmerman, the race will start at Appleby College and move throughout the downtown. Fashioned after the popular reality TV show and Stephen Lewis' book, A Race Against Time, the race is a fundraiser for $Million or More Oakville ($MOMO) in aid of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. There is a $25 registration fee per person and a team of four can compete with each member raising another $75. Each team will visit seven destinations between Appleby College and downtown, between noon and 5 p.m., by finding and then following the clues of the game in the local re-creation of the popular scavengerhunt-style travel show. The event is open to all ages. Teams will work to collect points and passport stamps throughout the race and beat their competitors to the finish line. Following the race, Aissatou Diajhate, director of programs of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, will speak and there will be refreshments and entertainment. To register, visit amazingraceagainsttime@gmail.com or www.millionormoreslf.ca, or call 905-469-6415. SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 5, 2008 HOURS: Weekdays: Monday - Friday opening at 4 pm. Weekends: Saturday & Sunday opening at 12 noon All rides will be One Coupon only: $2.50 a Ride or 10 Rides for $20.00 COME ENJOY ALL THE FUN RIDES INCLUDE · · · · Ferris Wheel Scrambler Berry-Go-Round Merry-Go-Round · Fire Chief · Scooter Bumper Cars · Family Swinger · Bumble Bee Bob · Cliff Hanger · Orient Express (Coaster Ride) New autumn garden tour The Oakville Horticultural Society will host its first Through the Garden Gate, self-guided garden tour Sunday, Sept. 28. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the tour will include workshops, demonstrations and expert gardeners. Tickets are $15. Visit www.oakvillehort.org for more information and ticket sales venues. ALL RIDES 1 Coupon Only Coupons are $2 each or 10 for $15