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For the finest in CUSTOM UPHOLSTERING call Baier's. Makers o f fine upholstered furniture (between Btmc& Third Unci W ALLO W EEN H A P P E N IN G S fe t , Page ns 2000 2 3 3 3W v k t o AR oad. U n it 7 sm s t i v c o i n o a n r g m V a lu a b le in t e r n a t io n a l e x p e r ie n c e Sports 5 6 P ages 7 5 C e n t s (p h isG S T ) A Metroland Publication Vol. 37 No. 128 W E D N E SD A Y , O C T O B E R 2 7 ,1 9 9 9 B s w r e u a a a r v c e r h a s f o e n r r n w l l M a ry-L o u C o o k-D iR isio d id n 't fit the tra d i tio n a l profile of a b reast ca n c e r victim but she w a s still not spared. N ow s h e 's p art of a fa shio n show to raise aw a re n e ss and fu n d s fo r breast c a n c e r research. B y N ancy Alexander SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Mary-Lou Cook-DiRisio was just 38 years old when she asked her family doctor about having a mammogram. Her doctor assured her she was too young to have to worry about breast screening. But unfortunately, her doctor was wrong. Within a few months, the young, Oakville mother of three was in fact diagnosed with breast cancer. The lump which was discovered by her partner and origi nally thought to be benign, was later determined to be cancer ous. "Even after we discovered the lump, my doctors basically reassured me that it was probably nothing," recalls CookDiRisio. "I didn't have a family history, I was young and did n't have any of the usual risk factors. I had my first child before the age of 30 and 1 wasn't overweight." Despite the initial optimism, Cook-DiRisio says she was fortunate that her doctors were so thorough. Even when a nee dle biopsy came back negative, her surgeon decided to perform a lumpectomy, just to be sure. Three days later, the results came back showing the small tumour to be malignant. Cook-DiRisio says she'll be forever grateful that her doctors were so cautious and thorough. As a result, her cancer was dis covered in its early stages. Subsequent surgery showed it had not spread to her lymph nodes. After five weeks of radiation, she now faces five years on the drug tamoxifen which has proven effective in preventing a recurrence. "The first six months were difficult with the diagnosis and the surgery." she recounts. "It's like you're suddenly in water and don't know how to swim." She credits her partner Sergio, with helping her through a trying time, doing the listening when she was too tired or upset to take in what the doctors were telling her. "He even checks up me constantly to make sure I've taken my tamoxifen," she laughs. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, CookDiRisio agreed to tell her personal story as a cautionary tale to other young women who feel (and whose doctors may feel) Residents want health ministry OK for long-term care plan Lobbyists urge use of old OTHS site Hospital (OTMH)/Extendicare nursing home. Family members are deeply worried that permanent long-term care beds will not be up and running in If common sense, emotion and cold hard facts count for anything in the red Oakville before Extendicare's lease to tape of government bureaucracy, the use O TM H's fifth floor expires in province has no choice but to approve September 2000. Their fears were only the former Oakville Family members Trafalgar High School are deeply worried magnified when, in 1998, HHS applied to the (OTHS) site as a 150-bed that permanent Ministry to use the OTHS long-term facility, say resi long-term care site, but instead it was dents. beds will not be up awarded beds that must be At M onday's special and running in put in place in Georgetown. public forum to air their Oakville before Residents say that decision views on Halton long-term Extendicare's made no sense, since the care proposals now before lease to use the Ministry of Health, the OTMH's fifth floor OTHS site is zoned, ser viced and ready to proceed. bid by Halton Healthcare expires in "Everyone involved in Services (HHS) was the September 2000. this project ... believed that only topic of conversation as citizens worried about the drastic short the building of the nursing home next door would be supported by a govern fall in beds took the floor. Leading the charge are those with ment that has made it clear it is com loved ones currently residing in the 34- mitted to opening new nursing home bed Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial (See 'Family' page 4) By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Mary-Lou Cook-DiRisio Photo by Christine Smyth they are too young to worry about breast cancer. In addition to practicing regular self-examination, CookDiRisio urges young women to make sure they're getting a thorough diagnosis, even though statistically they may fall into a low-risk category. "Early detection is vital, so it's really important for women to be proactive about their health," she stresses. " I feel that I got off easy thanks to the doctors I had, and I've tried to turn the experience into a positive. It was an awakening, for sure. It's taught me how important it is to live every minute of your life." Cook-DiRisio has also become proactive in raising funds for breast cancer research. To that end, she has become one of the chief organizers behind a big fashion show fundraiser "Cause and Affection", to be held in Oakville on Thurs. Nov. 18th at 7:30 p.m. at Le Dome Banquet Hall. ^ The evening will feature fashion collections from j. Orlando and David Findlay (both in downtown Oakville), live enter tainment by the band September, raffle giveaways and door prizes. Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments are included in the ticket price of $35. Cook-DiRisio is aiming to raise $50,000 for breast cancer research and she's hoping to make it an annual event. Tickets are available at j. Orlando (337-2934) and David Findlay (337-7183) or by calling Cook-DiRisio at 257-4227. Both sides in Home Depot location case begin doing battle before 0MB hearing By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF All eyes in Glen Abbey will be on the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing which got underway this week to settle Home Depot's bid to build its latest store on the North Service Road. The hearing, scheduled for nine days, will determine if the store can go ahead as planned or whether the Town of Oakville - backed by area homeown ers - has a strong enough case to deny the proposal which has already been turned down twice by the municipality. Home Depot's plan was rejected by the Town at Committee of Adjustment and again on May 10, when Council voted against Home Depot's bid to amend the Official Plan (OP) and change zoning. The development company Norstar owns the land in question, which is on the North Service Road between Dorval Drive and Fourth Line. Home Depot is proposing to buy the land and build a store there if Norstar can change the prestige industrial zoning to accom modate a big box store. Members of STOP (Support The Official Plan) and the Glen Abbey Residents Association (GARA) are worried about the proximity of area schools and the impact Home Depot may have on them, largely due to safe ty concerns over traffic. Members are also concerned that small residential streets such as Lindsay Drive and Ridgewood Court will be adversely affected by increased traffic. Parkridge Road residents, whose homes would back on to the new Home Depot, are worried about light, noise, safety and a lack of privacy. (See 'Hearing' page 5) G o casual and s u p p o rt U n ite d W a y H a llo w e e n b lo o d d o n o r c lin ic t o d a y today' s paper a t s a m e tim e All Oakville workers can do their bit for the United Way of Oakville, by dressing casually on Fri. Oct. 29th. Employers are being asked to set the cost and operate the program as they wish, and in return all they have to do is ask their employees for a dona tion. Anyone wanting information on how they can make Friday a fun, fundraising day, can contact Kym Hall at the United Way of Oakville 8455571. Editorials^ Focus___ ------J31 RR B8 Aiitnmntiua (H ClassHinH....................... r* ________ m Business-- -------------D8 - Sp ecial Supplem ents: For Home Delivery: The Bey, Hen's IVeer Company, Loosing Buildell P a rtia ld e live ryrM ississa u g aH o m e&D e s ig n C e n tre ,T h eB rick, P a rtyC ity ,B la ck's , C IM SG u a rd ia n ,P u re x Canadian Publications Mail Product Agreement #435-201 A Halloween's Blood Donor Clinic will be held today at the Croatian Parish Hall, 2110 Trafalgar Rd. N,, from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. Blood is needed to save lives. A sin gle donation can help save four lives. The blood's four components - plas ma, red cells, platelets and cryoprecipitate, may be given to different recipi ents. Healthy individuals aged 17 and 70 may give blood every 56 days, although first time donors must be 60 or younger. Bring photo ID or blood donor card. All blood types are needed, espe cially Type `O '. Photo by Peter C. McCusker C A R O U S E L O F N A T IO N S: It was billed as a salute to our multicultural heritage and the Carousel of Nations celebrations on the weekend delivered. In various locations around town, multicultural groups gave pavilion visitors a taste of the food and culture of various lands. Here, a performer acts out the Dance of the Old Men at the Central American pavilion at SL Thomas Aquinas High School. For more on the Carousel, see Focus. 2 0 0 0 C H R Y S L E R *4S8M p e rm onfi, pk£ ms, It t irerte, 300IWI IP eter W ats°n JH ' N V t s T M I N I s 2 0 .4 0 0tan /iC S o O Od o w n R ETIR EM EN T PLANNING SPECIALISTS Free C o n su l t a t io n 842-2100