Happy Holidays from the staff at the Abbotsford /Mission Times F R I D A Y
December 24, 2010
23 N E W S ,
SPORTS,
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E N T E R T A I N M E N T abbotsfordtimes.com
Mom wins car giveaway ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
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ingle mom Toni Biggerstaff thought she was going to a soccer awards presentation for one of her three daughters on Tuesday – instead she was presented with a new car. “Then suddenly there was a car in front of me with a bow on it, and they were saying they were giving it to me,” said Biggerstaff. “I’m still in shock. It’s a huge present.” Family friend Raylene Moorthy, who had nominated the family for the 2010 Christmas Car Giveaway, lured Biggerstaff and her girls to the Fix Auto Abbotsford east location. T h e c o n t e s t , s p o n s o re d by A b b o t s f o rd Ni s s a n , F i x Au t o Abbotsford east and west and the Times, is meant to help someone who has fallen on difficult times. This year’s car was a quality, used Nissan Sentra that was fully inspected and detailed for its new owner. The car also came compete with a year’s registration and insurance and a new CD player. Moorthy, whose husband coaches the Biggerstaff girls’ soccer team, said she’s known the family for years and knows their struggles. As soon as she saw the call for contest nominations, the Biggerstaff family immediately popped into her mind, said Moorthy. “They have suffered relationship changes, job changes, but Toni and the girls are so hard working and they always find the positive,” she said. “I know there were many families to choose from, but I don’t think they could have chosen anyone better.” Biggerstaff lost her job in the fall and was forced to take a lower paying part-time job to replace it. Not only are she and the girls surviving on a lower income, but they’ve also been without a car for a year and a half. “I’d saved up a little money for a
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– RAFE ARNOTT/TIMES
Single mom Toni Biggerstaff, and her daughters Heather, Sophie and Emily (front) are thrilled to be the recipients of the 2010 Christmas Car Giveaway sponsored by Abbotsford Nissan, Fix Auto Abbotsford and the Times. car, but I had to use that because I lost my job and now am living on a lower income,” said Biggerstaff, who added she’d been borrowing a neighbour’s car to go shopping or get her daughter to soccer. “[My daughters] have been catching the bus to school in the cold and dark every morning. Now I can take them to school and know they are safe.” Biggerstaff’s daughters Heather, 16, Sophie, 13 and Emily, 9, were as excited as their mom. “I think my mom deserves it. She goes through so much and it’s nice to see a real smile on her face,” said
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Liquor store assault
Clerk spit on by three suspects
Heather. “She works so hard to make sure we have smiles on our faces – everyday and all day.” Sophie responded to her sister’s comments by shedding a few tears. “I’m just so happy. I don’t know why I’m crying,” she said, her voice cracking. The car means the family can get around again, said Biggerstaff. She’s looking forward to taking the girls out on the road. “Now we can get out of Abbotsford, maybe go to the beach in White Rock . . . listen to the tunes on the new stereo.”
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bbotsford Police are searching for three men who assaulted a female employee by spitting in her face at a liquor store in September. The incident took place at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 25 at a crowded, privately operated liquor store in the 31900 block of South Fraser Way. Three South Asian men, who had been waiting in line, barged ahead of other customers when a second cash register became available. The suspects swore at the cashier, a 19-year-old employee, who protested that the men had barged the line. The men then knocked over a liquor display, and spat in the face of a 25-year-old employee before fleeing the scene. Police have released survellience video images so the public can help identify the suspects. The incident has been under investigation since September, but police have just now been able to attain clear images of the alleged assailants, said Const. Ian MacDonald. “We knew there was security video, but there was some difficulty on the part of the proprietor to download that video,” he said. see ASSAULT, page A6
May you experience Peace, Rest, Joy, Love, Hope & Warmth this Holiday Season!
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