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Follow us on EYE EXAMS AVAILABLE thursdAY, November 3, 2016 Serving the community of Whitchurch-Stouffville 40 Pages/yorkregion.com 6292 Main St., Stouffville · www.vividoptical.ca 905-640-3537 Growing up poor Education is great equalizer PAGE 3 Steve Somerville/Metroland Maple Porter-Balaz of Aurora, with husband Fred Balaz, have been caring for foster children for 14 years. York Region Children's Aid Society has a critical shortage of foster families. Alcohol expansion Wine for sale on region grocery store shelves PAGE 32 CAS faces `critical' foster families shortage BY Lisa Queen HOT TUB BLOWOUT SALE! Seaway SEE In STORE FOR DETAILS Pools & Hot Tubs 27 HERITAGE RD., MARKHAM T lqueen@yrmg.com 905-294-8030 o the four dozen young boys cared for in their elegant and welcoming Aurora foster home for the past 14 years, they are Miss Maple and Mr. Fred. Removed from their homes by York Region's Children's Aid Society because of abuse, neglect, conflict or financial hardship, they have found a safe haven, often for years, in the loving home of Maple Porter-Balaz and her husband Fred Balaz. GET CONNECTED q TELL US what you think about this issue. Email newsroom@yrmg.com. Both immigrants, Porter-Balaz and Balaz wanted to give back to Canada. "What better way to do so than fostering. Taking children in your home, looking after them, showing them a different way of life, lov- ing them, caring for them, I just thought that would be just wonderful," said Porter-Balaz, adding she and her husband chose to take in boys, usually between the ages of five and 12. "Sometimes, kids are coming from very, very difficult situations and they come into your home and some of them may act up or whatever but after a little while, they settle down because they can see that you care about them. There is love everywhere and you look after See page 13. Audi · Porsche European & Asian Vintage Volkswagen Hybrid 138 Sandiford Dr., Unit 5 · 905-642-2886 www.410auto.ca GOING GREEN AT 410 AUTO Thank You for Voting Us #1 Orthodontist · visit our specialty office · starting at age 1 (Pediatrics) · starting at age 7 (Orthodontics) · no referral necessary 905-642-3642 www.kidsdentalgroup.ca