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% Blowout Sale! Many of your favourite labels & hottest looks for spring now Shop sm art shop now...come & see us. 25%-50% off. 5 Trafalgar F0f!llS4^ * ^ Official Media SDonsor Sponsor FOURTH LINE AUTO G OO D YEAR For All Your Car's Needs Drive Clean Emission Testing Government Safety Inspection Tune-Ups · Brakes · Exhaust · Cooling Systems CAA Approved Shop 559 Speers Road (905) 842-3001 Editor: Wilma Blokhuis Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 250) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: blokhuis@haltonsearch.com W E D N E S D A Y , JU LY IQ, 2 ( X ) 2 · C l Erinoak goes extra mile for Diego Anonymous donor gives fam ily $25,000 to install elevator By Wilma Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR L ife has become much easier for Diego Garcia's mom, thanks to the kindness of an anonymous Peter C. McCusker · Oakville Beaver Ingrid Garcia now transports her six-year-old son Diego up to his room using this elevator installed in her home, thanks to a $25,000 gift from an anonymous donor. donor. A "very caring" company has come forward with $25,000 to have an eleva tor installed inside the Garcia family's home. Diego is six years old, weighs 48 pounds, and has the neurological capac ity of a three to four-month-old baby due to a severe form of cerebral palsy. He had to be carried up upstairs to his room. His mom, Ingrid Garcia, was developing back problems from the constant lifting. "He'll never walk," she says. "And, he's going to get bigger." Diego is a client of Erinoak Serving Young People with Physical Difficulties, and lately his mom has mentioned her sore back from time to time. They have been going to Erinoak for four years. Diego receives therapy and his mom attends a parent support group and takes advocacy courses. Her husband, Luis, works as a mechanic, and is the fam ily's sole income earner. Diego has two older brothers, Alonso, 9, and Bernardo, 11. They arrived in Canada five years ago from Mexico. Alonso and Bernardo attend siblings programs at Erinoak where they learn to better cope with having a disabled sib ling. "We came here because we knew we would have a better life in Canada," said Ingrid. "Erinoak is like having a big hearted mother," said Ingrid. "They don't just look after the dis abled child, they look after the whole family." i f ~W eather Marrin, an occupational therapist at Erinoak, which M,. -M. serves families in Halton and Peel, went the extra mile and searched out the donor and the contractor for the Garcias. "When you have a disabled child, you don't know where to turn for this kind of help," said Ingrid. "I'm so grateful to Erinoak and to Heather who did this extra work." The elevator was installed in the back of the Garcias' garage last March. A walk-in closet off Diego's room was used for the elevator shaft, resulting in minimal renovations to the house. A small clothing and linen closet was built in the hallway outside his room to replace the walk-in closet. "This elevator is like a present from heaven." The family will eventually require a wheelchair van and washroom renova tions to include a walk-in shower for Diego. "Erinoak is already working on this," concludes Ingrid. "I'm so thankful to them." Kerr Street Ministries launches $2.2-M campaign By Wilma Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR Kerr Street Ministries is bursting at the seams - but nobody is refused a helping hand. "It's hard to imagine that our com munity has in its midst close to 600 families who currently depend on the support and care from staff and volun teers at Kerr Street Ministries (KSM)," says a new brochure designed to raise $2.2 million over the next four years. O f this money, $1 million - $250,000 per year - is to be used for programs and services, and $ 1.2 million - $550,000 annually - for improve ments to its facilities. These improve ments may include providing access to the basement for the physically dis abled, on-site facilities for the youth drop-in, and quiet rooms for one-to-one mentoring and professional counselling. It describes in detail the programs offered by KSM, how it helps the work ing poor, the unemployed, the home less, youth, and families receiving social assistance. Assistance is given to the chronically ill, people with mental health issues, people who are physical ly unable to work, and New Canadians. And, it explains its financial needs to meet a growing demand for programs and services. One of these programs is its Summer Day Camp, a free eight-week program. Even the lunches are free. "Our camps started in partnership with the Halton Housing Authority," explained Ron Shantz, executive direc tor of KSM, adding the agency contin ued offering the camps on its own since the that initial first-year partnership. "We've grown from having 15 kids and three staff to over 200 kids and 50 staff and volunteers." Last year's camp had an enrollment of about 150 kids. The camp is based at Oakwood School, uses Lions Pool, and organizes field trips to various local points of interest including the Lions Foundation Guide Dog Training Centre, Oakville and District Humane Society, and Burloak Canoe Club. It also offers golf lessons at Oakville Family Golf Centre, arranges tours of the local jail, and vis its with Mayor Ann Mulvale and police officers. "We also have two-week overnight trips to a camp in Hanover," Shantz continued. "We split our camp into three groups." This camp costs KSM $100 a week per child, money it raises from the com munity and from the 25 local churches that support this agency. "This camp is for children whose families do not have the resources to send their kids anywhere else," he said. (See `KSM' page C2) The Body Shaping Fitness Studio For Women. Dirk Gebhardt Maria Kinlough Maria and Dirk have created Oakville' s most unique fitness studio for women. It' s a sparkling 10,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility. What makes the Studio different: M ayor Ann M ulvale an d sta ff o f Space O ptical a t their grand opening celebration. Denise Pala (left) Niki Pala (right) Micheal McGrath (behind) Ann Mulvale and Nora Pala (middle) Daphne Pala and Spencer Pala (right) celebrate at the Trafalgar Village opening party o f Space Optical. Photo: Tyrel Featherstone Space Optical Limited celebrated their grand re-opening on June 24. Now located in the newly renovated Trafalgar Village. Space Optical has a history of 19 years of service in Oakville. Friends and business associates o f the family operated business were present to commemorate the happy occasion. Nicky Pala, owner, thanks the community for their continued support and adds "we are here to serve you bigger and better for many more years to come". It is the only privately owned, state-of-the-art, women' s fitness facility in Oakville. Our members and their well being are our only priority. The Studio and all services are restncted to members only. Every aspect of the Studio is dedicated to health and fitness. The warm and welcoming atmosphere is created by the friendly staff, lovely surroundings including a fireplace in the foyer and fountain in the healthy eating bistro, soft colours and aesthetically pleasing architecture. The Studio has acquired the reputation for professionalism, attention to detail and immaculate amenities. It has the honour of being voted in the prestigious category of Oakville' s Best Fitness Facility. You are cordially invited to tour the Studio to experience the unique ambiance. Please call and make an appointment. HaltoriSearch.c ..jtM t- a s - c U c k 'e w v iL y ! / D iam ond Award W in n er for O akville's Best Fitness Facility. For more information please call (905) 849-1919 183 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, O ntario L6K. 1E7 (Just East o f Dorval) w w w .b o d y s h a p i n g s t u d io .c o m , i