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Backyard Touch Open 7 days a week 318 Guelph Street Georgetown 905.873.8835 Receive up to $1249 worth of upgrades for FREE* *See store for details. Offer ends April 28/08 #33 3900X CANADIAN TIRE 315 Guelph Street, Georgetown 9 cm Perennials HUGE ASSORTMENT #33 0256 Pansies ASSORTED COLOURS Come see our pansy baskets, big shoots and pansy window boxes 33 5835 5 for $1000 Save $5.00 per shrub Sod Coming Soon! 2 Certified Horticulturists on staff! Large selection of nursery stock with more arriving weekly. Check out our instock assortment of fruit trees. $999 $1299 2 gal. Forsythia Golden Blooms Hedging Cedars (Black Cedars 3 gal.) $999 1 gal. Boxwood Can be used for formal hedging 33 0531 $799 1 gal. Dogwood 33 5802 33 6675-0 Reg. 24.99 1/2 PRICE Garden Centre NOW OPEN or $2.49 ea. $1299 a flat or $1.29 ea. Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, April 23, 2008 3 The members of Lake- side Chapter of the IODE were recently named 2008 Acton Citizens of the Year by the Acton Rotary Club. The group, which was formed in 1917 dissolved its mem- bership earlier this year. Members on hand for the 90th anniversary of the group were from left, Ernestine Foster, Kath- leen Harding, Jane Mc- Allister, Elma Braida, Kay Dills, Rosalea Dawkins, Helen Jocque, Joyce Sprowl and in front May Dumarsh. Submitted photo The Lakeside Chapter of the IODE has been recognized for its 90 years of charity work with the announcement the group has been named the 2008 Acton Citizens of the Year. Brian Robertson of Actons Rotary Club, which runs the Citizen of the Year program, said the selection was made by three former Acton Citizens of the Year Bill Spielvogel, Diane Spielvogel and Jon Hurst. In a press release issued by the selection committee, the former citizens said, each member of the chapter has brought their own individual strengths and skills to the chapter. All members have been hardworking, eager volunteers who never sought the limelight and remained steadfast in providing a strong, car- ing example to their community. The committee said the groups activities span generations and together they have qui- etly helped many. The IODE worked with other community organizations in many ways, including their participation in the Christmas Hamper pro- gram. The highlight of their year was always their tea and bazaar. Due to the increasing age of the members and a decreasing membership, the Lakeside Chapter of the IODE, which formed in 1917, dissolved earlier this year. Foster said the groups former members were all pretty excit- ed and happy to be named Citizens of the Year. Its good news, said Foster. She said the fact the group did a lot of things for people who needed help and the companionship were the main reasons she joined. The IODE has always helped with the Knights of Columbus Christmas Hamper pro- gram, she said. The organization donated money towards the food in the hampers and helped to pack and sort them before they were distributed to needy families. Foster said the group also provided annual bursaries for students at Acton High School and plaques to the most improved male and female student at Acton public schools. The local IODE chapter had also adopted a school in Labrador. Over the years the group sent money, school supplies, hand-knit mitts, scarves and toques to the students at the school. Their annual bazaar and bake sale each May was a major fundraiser for the group. Former IODE president and member for 57 years Helen Jocque said all the members donat- ed something to the annual bazaar. The group didnt hold one last year because with the membership dwindling to only nine it was too difficult for the women to make items and host the event. Jocque remembers when she first joined the group at the age of 22 there were about 75 members. We used to wear hats and white gloves and dresses, said Jocque, who misses the group and its monthly meetings. IODE friends are special, said Jocque. Other long-time members of the group include Elma Braida, who was with the IODE for 66 years, May Dumarsh (57 years) and Kay Dills (55 years). The first event held by the group was a tea and bake sale in 1917. During the First and Second World Wars the members assisted in many projects such as knitting for the Red Cross. After the First World War the ladies helped decorate veterans graves in Fairview and Dublin cemeteries on Nov. 11 every year until 1954 and helped organize Decoration Day with a number of Acton groups to be held each June. In the early years of the organization meet- ings were held at members homes and at the Odd Fellows Hall on Willow St. The IODE later moved its meetings to the YMCA and in 1946 to the old Acton Legion on Main St., then to the new legion in 1974. Beginning in 1993 meetings were held at Knox Presbyterian Church and before the group dis- banded they moved back to members homes. The group will be honoured by the Rotary Club at a dinner next month. At press time a date had not yet been set. Lakeside Chapter of IODE named Acton Citizens of Year LISA TALLYN Staff Writer