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Local media, including the Waterloo Chronicle, took part in the kickoff for the Festival of Trees fundraiser Friday afternoon at Kitchenâ€" er City Hall. The weekâ€"long campaign raises funds for St. Mary‘s General Hospital. Having fun answering the challenge to build a gingerâ€" bread house in 30 minutes were Gerry Mattice and Andrea Bailey of the Chroniâ€" cle {above}, as well as Don Shilton, Moira Taylor and Lydia Chudleigh of St. Mary‘s HOSBIREL )o cssussmanere Shorter Tree of Angels campaign means less time to shop this year. The annual holiday tay drive,. which kicks off this Friday outside Zellers in Conestoga Mall, will wrap up Dec. 20 this year, as opposed to its regular cutâ€" off ume on Dec. 24. astâ€"minute Christmas I shoppers will have to plan their trip to the Tree of Angels a little earlier this year. Ending the campaign Festival of Trees By AwoneA Baiiey Chronicle Staff Pok cesahar DHCTOS four days early will give organizers, namely the Salâ€" vation Army, time to properâ€" Iy fill all tov requests from less fortunate children in the community, as well as deal with any lastâ€"minute emergency appeals. "Being that Christmas is on a Sunday this year, if we were to run right to noon on Saturday (Christmas Evel, that would really mess things up," said Major Don Oakley of the Salvation Army, "If we were to run into CITY NFWS colour choices any problems, we‘d have a difficult _ time _ filling requests." "There are so many folks willing to help; we‘ll do just fine." Oakley acknowledged â€" Major Don Oakley Salvation Army An ounce of prevention â€" make that two ounces‘ Our handy Colour Testers help you select the right colour. the first time. They contain enough to paint a 2° x 2¢ wall surface . and are available in all of Benjamin Maore‘s exquisite R P colours. Now available at all Heer‘s Decorating Bfl“amer locations core to the test Green Acre park widow granted longer reprieve anette Stewart couldn t heip but choke back tears. The 67â€"yearâ€"old Green Acre trailer park resident was given the good news Monday night that she can stay in her home much longer than planned, after city council decided to amend their decision from last week‘s committee of the whole meeting to let her stay in her trailer yearâ€" round until Oct. 31, 2007. Stewart, a fullâ€"time resiâ€" dent of the park, located on the westâ€"end side of the city, first asked council to include her name on a list of 60 other residents who were granted the chance to live yearâ€"round in their trailers until 2007. After this time, current municipal bylaws state the residents will then have to move out of their trailers for two months sometime between Oct. 31 to April 30 each year. The threeâ€"year span until 2007 would give residents sufficient time to seek alterâ€" native accommodations during those two months, and in the process would work in transforming the campground back into a seasonal recreational faciliâ€" "I was one of our busiest days," he said. "But I‘m not concerned. We find that the Tree of Angels has become a part of a lot of people‘s Christmas. _ Stewart first applied to be included on the list as part of a hardship request. many donations that have come in past years were purchased and dropped off on Christmas Eve. "There are so many folks willing to help; we‘ll do just fine." Oakley said the Salvation Army has already sent letâ€" ters out to its major donors, By Ryas Connei1 bor Fhe Chronicle aftter her 64â€"yearâ€"old hus band passed away unex pectedly this past Septem ber. The only residents who were given the exemption to stay yearâ€"round until 2007 were residents who had already been using the campsites throughout the whole year prior to July 2004. Any new tenants after fuly 2004 would be tforced to vacate for two months between October and April. Stewart was accidentally omitted from the list. *I‘m fust very relieved now that this is all over," Stewart said in a interview, after council made their decision to let her stay in her home until 2007. "I‘m very happy that they decidâ€" ed to push their decision to include me." &# Henrietta Walker, the secretary of the Green Acre Residents Association. told council the omission of Stewart‘s name on the list of residents was simply just a "clerical error‘. letting them know the change in wrapâ€"up date. "It just gives us some extra time in case anything comes up," he said. "I remember a few years ago a family was burned out of their home at Christmas. Thankfully, with the items that had been donated, we were able to replace everyâ€" thing for the children that had been lost." An official ceremony will kick off this year‘s toy drive at noon this Friday. "I‘m jfust very relieved now that this is all over." â€"Janette Stewart Green Acre park resident It was heard in last 583 King Street N., Waterloo (519) 7721127 £77 Beimnnt Ave W A12N Â¥i tona St N KITCHE NE R KITCMF NE R i8 19) 578 5330 16101 576 757h HEERS 565 King St. N. @ Northfield in GTO Gas Bar www_gtwireless.ca _ 8801477 $11s3%.% & 4 Ni F4 & week‘s meeting that the onlv reason why Stewart wasn‘t included on the list was because she took two longer vacations in the past couple of vears, one lasting for three monuths when she and her husband celebrated early retirement. "She is. and always has been, a full member of Green Acro," said Walker, mentioning that it was Green Acre park owner Bruce Martin who omitted her accidentally from the list of residents. "She has comâ€" plied with all city hall requirements, and should be treated just the same." Council decided last week at its committee of the whole meeting that it would, at first. not back an option that would allow Stewart stay in her trailer vearâ€"round until Oct. 31, 2007, like the other tenants â€" even if she had already completed all of the necesâ€" sary paperwork. Instead, they decided that Stewart would only be exempted from the bvlaw for this coming wa but not for the fnllmmner. She would then, howevâ€" er, be able to return to counâ€" cil in the spring to request an extension if she had not been able to vet make any accommodations on where to stay for those remaining two months. this year. the Tree of Angels is sponsored by the Waterloo Chronicle, 105.3 KOOLâ€" FM/Oldies 1090, the City of Waterloo, Conestoga Mail, the May Court Club. the Kinsmen Club, Optimist International and the Salvaâ€" tion Army. New unwrapped toys for children of all ages are welâ€" come. Angie Hill of 105.3 KOOT .â€" FM is the campaign‘s honâ€" orary spokesperson again this year. However, Coun. Jim Bol â€"*~ TELUS PCS Biacaberry Mike & Dat Bostor Praza with 3 yr actv Continued on page 8 GIFT CERTIFICATE