The Windsor Star from Windsor, Ontario, Canada • 3

Ti Windsor Star Local METRO EDITOR: TOM McMAHON 256-5533 FAX 255-551: THURSDAY. DECEMBER 27, 2001 A3 9 WINDSOR he economy unfounded CD Fears of tight-fisted response to world events, By Dave Battagkllo i i i TTfT A gVi; 'iff iSi' ft 7i i 1 IN BRIEF IVvo charges laid after University Avenue crash A 57-year-old Windsor man faces two charges in connection with a Christmas Eve crash. The single-vehicle accident occurred about 8 p.m. Monday when a black Ford Taurus went out of control on University Avenue West and slammed into a utility pole. The impact smashed the car's windshield and wrapped the driver's side around the pole.

The pole was uprooted from the sidewalk and dangled precariously on a length of wire. University was closed between Caron and Crawford avenues as firefighters and paramedics worked with extrication tools for about an hour to free the driver from the mangled car. He was taken to Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including suspected rib fractures. The unidentified motorist will be charged with impaired driving and refusing a blood demand. Commuter lanes reopen at Sarnia border crossing The NEXUS lanes for preapproved Canadian and American border crossers have been reopened at the Bluewater Bridge near Sarnia.

The lanes between Point Edward and Port Huron, Mich, had been suspended sinceSept.il. The records of premanent residents of the U.S. and Canada are being reviewed for new security criteria implemented since Sept. 11. New applicants to NEXUS are not being accepted.

The program allows preapproved, low-risk travellers to enter Canada and the U.S. using dedicated lanes. Cop dog, handler receive commendation for arrests Beezle the police dog and handler Const. John Virban have received a divisional commendation from Supt. Bill Stephens in connection with the arrest of STAR STAFF REPORTER Bargain hunters were out in droves and spending freely Wednesday as thousands filled the city's main shopping hubs during the annual Boxing Day pilgrimage.

"Generally you get traffic, but people are spending a tonne of money," said Ilona Schentag, director of marketing at Windsor Crossing outlet centre. "Overall, we've had a terrific season." Schentag said some customers began lining up at 7 a.m. in anticipation of sales at selected stores at the centre which were offering discounts of as much as 70 per cent. "We are absolutely packed," Schentag said. "I would say, other than our grand opening in June 1999, this is our best day, for sure." Retailers could hardly contain their beaming smiles while surveying unending streams of customers at the outlet centre and other key shopping destinations such as Devonshire Mall and Freeds.

"It's been like a feeding frenzy," remarked one Freeds salesman to another during a brief lull at the men's clothing store on Ottawa Street. Ari Freed said this holiday season was busier than normal, noting record sales for suits in November. He said sales dropped off after the Sept. 11 attacks, but returned to normal by the beginning of November. Customers were lined up 10 deep Wednesday waiting for a cashier at the men's store.

"I saw their ad, came out and actually found something I really like," said Kevin Boyle, holding two suits and a leather coat. "I have the day off, so I think I'll go to the (Devonshire) mall and see what they have going on." Parking lot jammed The parking lot at the mall was overflowing minutes after opening at 9 a.m. with shoppers elbow to elbow in the corridors and lined up waiting up to a half an hour to get in several popular stores. "My wife is working today, so she sent me here with a list," said Steve Pisani, who reluctantly stood in a long line waiting to enter the Keeping Room, a gift shop selling Christmas goods at half price. "The deals are good," said Danielle Goodwin as she left the gift shop.

"It's the waiting in line I don't like. I have a limit. I hit my three stores, now I'm done." But the majority of shoppers were in high spirits, laughing and smiling with family or friends as they moved from store to store. "As long as everyone is in a good mood, I don't mind this," said Lori Clarke, shopping with her two daughters and Keeping Room manager Carolyn Mele keeps the line-up of people out of her packed store during the Boxing Day rush. Stores were packed with bargain hunters throughout the day.

star photo: Chris Wattie SAM'S FAREWELL Perhaps the biggest Boxing Day sale in Ontario was at the flagship Sam The Record Man store in Toronto, where the bankrupt music chain liquidated its inventory. Although some retail analysts had warned consumers that Boxing Day prices might be lacklustre, Sam's doubled its usual Boxing Day discount, marking down the entire store to 40 per cent off. mother. "The girls got gift certificates for Christmas, so we are here to see what we can get." Adeel Aslam, manager at Urban Planet, a clothing store for teens, said he expected more than 7,000 people to come through his store Wednesday. "We work 364 days and then look forward to this day," he said.

"This is a great turnout." Gina Grossi, manager at Laura's women's clothing store, said the key to handling the crowds was being well-organized and having enough staff "to keep people moving along. "We're having fun, Grossi said. "It's great to see so many people out." Dave Battagello can be reached at 255-5777, Ext. 697. two suspects and the recovery of a stolen firearm.

Officers investigating a residential alarm found the front window smashed. They Trek is for the kids set up a perimeter to let Beezle go to work. The German shepherd entered the home to Beezle CORPORATE SPONSORS Best Western Hotels has contributed $35,000 for hotel rooms along Ball's journey. He has also been assisted by nutritional companies donating supplements and National Sports Centre, which is providing shoes. if" 4 rV ft f- By Dave Battagkllo star staff reporter Few people would have grasped what Norman was up to Wednesday during his two-hour solitary walk through the frigid streets of Windsor.

But hundreds of thousands of children around the world will soon be grateful for what the 59-year-old grandfather from Toronto is trying to accomplish with his Walk of Hope. There was no crowd or police escort just his wife driving slowly behind in a grey minivan to accompany Ball, who walked roughly 20 miles from the Windsor-Detroit tunnel, south to Tecum-seh Road, then east toward the city limits. Ball started his Walk of Hope last Jan. 1 in Phoenix to raise money and awareness because of what he calls the "disposal" of countless children around the world who have been abandoned to live in the streets, sewers and garbage dumps. He hopes to raise $10 million US and $15 million Cdn during his journey.

"When I first considered this effort I had done precious little to help my fellow man in any way," said the former corporate trainer. "The Walk of Hope has given me a second chance to give back. This at the minimum will save 10,000 lives." Ball and his wife, Dianne, have given up their home and family life, making a two-year commit- make sure it was clear of suspects. Beezle recently made headlines for leading police to an auto-theft suspect cowering under a porch in the 1100 block of Monmouth Road. Seminars scheduled to help diabetics The Diabetes Wellness Centre will offer a variety of programs in January, including ones on nutrition and stress.

A Jan. 15 dining-out seminar in Leamington will suggest healthy menu choices and how they can fit into meal plans. It will be at the Half Century club, 160 Talbot St. from 2 to 4 p.m. There will also be an information and awareness seminar, at St.

Clair Community College, Jan. 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the college's main lobby near the cafeteria. For more information, call the centre at 254-3402.

ment to assist abandoned children living primarily in six countries Romania, Brazil, El Salvador, Haiti, India and Guatemala but also those in Canada and the U.S. "I'm very proud of him," Dianne said. "He has great determination to get up every morning and walk these miles for the kids." The Walk of Hope went from Phoenix west to San Diego, then north to Vancouver. Ball then headed east through the Rocky Mountains and prairies to Winnipeg, south back into the U.S. and turned east, arriving in Detroit this week and crossing into Windsor on Wednesday Ball will celebrate the mark Jan.

12 in Toronto. He plans to continue east to Montreal, then south into the U.S. and west back to Phoenix. He expects to complete his joiumey Nov. 9.

For more information or to donate, check the Walk of Hope Web site at www.walkofhope.oi or call toll-free at 1-888-535-9999. Norman Ball, a corporate trainer who decided he wanted to do more than give a few dollars to charity, passed through Windsor Wednesday on his Walk of Hope, which began in Phoenix. star photo: ciins wattie Company's staff 'adopts' families -t I hJ WJM RhI iv 'V Laura Slovan Lucy Hendrican Shawn Sinnott John Duckett Angela Warnock EDITOR 'S NOTE: Has your group or business done something special to help make Christmas cheerier for those in need? If so, send us a short fax outlining your charitable deed and include a contact name and number so it may be included in our Joy of Giving column over the holidays. Our fax is Most approve of extra security ineau, 43, said the attacks scared her away from the border initially. "When it first happened, I didn't go over," she said.

"Only now, because of the changes, do I go." Macripapineau said people cannot let security concerns or perceived threats rule their lives. "We can't stop living," she said. While the changes have made her feel more secure, Macripapineau said the government should continue to investigate other ways to make Canada's borders safe. "It's probably safer now than ever," said Laura Slovan, an 18-year-old student who said she went to Detroit two weeks after the attacks and noticed an increased police presence. Not everyone is happy or satisfied with the new precautions.

Lucy Hendrican, a 22-year-old student, said she is uncomfortable with By Aaron Whkhhy More than three months after the terrorist attacks in the United States, many Windsor area residents say they feel safer crossing the border to Detroit thanks to new safety measures, but others say Canada's immigration polices are still troublesome. The Sept. 11 attacks spurred a dramatic increase in security at the Windsor-Detroit border, including the deployment of the U.S. National Guard. New action plan On Dec.

12, Canadian and American officials signed a border action plan which outlined various now measures, including steps to improve information sharing and the use of advanced technology for so irches. Speech pathologist Susan Macripap- the obvious police presence. "It made me more nervous," she said. Document consultant Shawn Sinnott, 25, said the federal government should be more concerned with Canada's immigrat ion policies. Better screening "I don't think what they're doing is enough," he said.

"In my opinion, as the border is concerned, there needs to better screening." John Duckett, a 27-year-old millwright, said the Canadian government should be more concerned about who it allows into the country. "Anybody can get into Canada," he said. Still, some residents have other reasons to avoid the United States. "1 think it might be safer, but the exchange is too much," said Angela Warnock, a 44-year-old homemaker. Community involvement means work, especially for the employees of McGill, an east-end technology-based training company.

Under the careful organization of Beth Browne, internal resource co-ordinator, the company sponsored two Windsor families through the Salvation Army. Accounting manager Stephanie Feldman said the company's 85 full-and part-time employees are always suggesting ways to give back to the community, and the families one with four members and one with five are not the only ones who'll benefit from McGill's efforts. The company also helped with the Salvation Army's Christmas dinner at the Cleary A fleet of trucks leaving the Nemak Windsor Aluminum Plant recently was filled with more than 81 boxes of food and toys for 27 west-end families. The year-long effort by Nemak employees benefited 91 children more than ever before for the plant. Proceeds from raffles and 5050 draws bought turkeys, fresh fruit and vegetables, non-perishables and toys for the list of families suggested by the Windsor West Citizens Organization.

Seven officers and one civilian of the west-end Windsor Police Community Services office are giving a new meaning to "duty." Wanting to make Christmas cheerier for a west-end family, the office staff went to the Salvation Army. Co-ordinator Didi Martin encouraged everyone to pitch in to buy gifts and necessities for a single mom and her 10-year-old son..