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w- r ~fr~auWa ~jamtoVoted #1 t- EànDroafst» >A~~~~~hp' i4 'asoInsDr. 74 1 A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 140 No. 94 Tuesday, February 8, 2000 44 Pages $l1.00OGST included) Photo by GRAHAM PAINE -'Piggyback slide Haltn seniors facing housing crunch:t report By IRENE GENTLE Theo Champion Homelessness has begun tar- nishing the golden years of Halton senior citizens. They're facing an increasingly precari- oua future due 10 a dear'th of affordable housing, long-îerm-care beds and emer- gency shelters, said the chair of Halton's Elderly Services Advisory Commitee (ESAC), Dr. Lloyd Geaner. And an aging population means the demand will keep growing, Dr. Gesner bold the Region's health and social ser- vices commuittee last Tuesday. 'Thse data says the senior population in Halton seilI increase," he said. "It says it orilîbe poorer." According to an ESAC interim report on the issue, about 50 Halton seniors, relying oan shelters or unsuitable lodging with fam- Rocket ITwo-year-old Cassandra Patton screamns In dellght as 8h. slides dowfl a Sixteen Mlle Creek hili on the back of dad Dea'ek Seturday momlng. e g n e vNo working smoke alarms at off under two homes damaged by tre By USA OARTWRIGHT Theo Champion Smoke alarms at two homes in which fires recently broke out weren't working, said a fire depart- ment spokesman. "The vast majority of the bouses we go into don't have wor----ng smoke alarma," said Captain Mark Cross of the Milton Fire Department. "This is a very dis- heartening trend." '1, vut majoeIty of thse houme wgIsM 4ou't bive rwg sasoke ahw.s." The first tire occurred an a base- ment bedroomn at a tosenhouse unit at 551 Commercial St. January 28. Smoke oras visible when thse tire department arrived on seene. Thre stations were called to tight the blaze that melted a computer termi- nal and. caused smoke damage. There were no working smoke alarmas. "I can't stress (enough) the importance of working sesoke alais in every sleeping ares, espe- cially in a basement where there is usually one exil. (If it is blocked), the chances of escape are mini- mal." . se. ONE on page 9 portable An 1 l-year-old boy is believed to be responsible for igniting a model rocket engine undcmcath an Our Lady of Victory School portable over the weekend of Januaay 29 and 30. Minimal damage was caused to the portable. School officiaIs contacîed Hialton Regional Police aI 7:45 s.m. Thursday afiter being informed about the incident. A scarch of the school rcvealled no other engines or inccndiary devices. The student oras tunsed over to his par- ents. Under the Young Offenders Act, the boy cannot he charged ai age Il. "The conSgp s relatie hotrelessieon, or seniors living in space where they are at risk$' ......................... iiy or fniends, have no permanent home. But many more are at risk of being unable to find proper shelter. Currently, 868 seniors are waiting for subsidized housing and 287 are lined up for supportive housing. Another 600 are on a waiting list to get into a long-term- care facility. "Mte concept is relative homelessneas." explained Dr. Geaner, "or seniors living in apaces where they are at risk." A number of circumatances can conspire to make'seniors vuinerable in their own homes. They include living with no income due to immigration sponsorship, or a meager e-e FEW OPTIONS on page 9 Comment Page 6 Community Page 8 Business 20 Dateline 22 Sports 23-26 Classified 28-31 e Bly eSuars e Ralph heicata icorne Tax* *Oriental Wok* * White Rose* *Sntnotoed ameas anty *TIP OF THE MONTH: Does Your Pet Have Healthy Teeth; - nd Why You Should Be Concerned? Porioontl "gain" danease as one of the mess commun heatth probtemas aes by veaerisariass. In Sact 85 to 90 "ecnt of att dogs and cata over ais, years of age tasve periodontat (garni disease. The signa oS peiadontal diseasr are bad bret, bleeding, iaflamed or recedrd guma, infection, changes ata appeta.o, difliculty chewing or tosta lon. Aïental diaease cas be paiafut and caa conaribute to kidny, livor aid hmu diseane. If you have naticesl any of alaese signa, achedaate a consultation for yesrpet. amea pudo not c are fr kteeh t eway peple dodetal probem aae esaremiely severe asd liSe alreatening. Fotsnately mont dental prolalema cmn be preventedl or if llaey develop taoea h l rOSted by your velaula. Remerîbo PetMy have uthg.