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Return TELEPHONE and Founded in 1875 by at Sum Ontario Telephone Subscriptions Single each 1 per Canada in alcountnaaothe than Canada a The Ontario Com renovation Don Ryder Director of Advertising Ken Bellamy Hartley Coles Managing Editor The Acton Free a ana of ha group of suburban which The Aurora News The Enterpioe The Bampton Guardian The Burl The Burtmoton Weekend Post The Advertiser Guardian The Independent Economist Sun The Champion The The Era The North York Friday Beaver Thts Week Oshawa Thie Weekend Richmond HJI Libera Thomhill Liberal The Scarborough Mirror The Sloutfvflle Tribune end Wood bridge Lborol Pining Publish ng Distributing a a division Harlequin Enterprises Lim ted DEPARTMENT Editor Murray Editor Helen Murray Sports Mark Darkroom Nancy ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT PJataJI Advancing Manager Cook lea K rt Davy Sandra Wis on detained Advertising Carolyn A rtem Debbie Mac BUSINESSACCOUNTING OFFICE Office Manager Jean A job well done We are often quick to criticize when we think it needed but hopefully also equally as fast to throw out bouquets when deserved And this is a time when the town works department will be presented with a bouquet Last week we expen enced the worst snow storm in four years But almost before the white stuff had settled it was cleared from the roads allowing ex cellent access to all parts of town And even before we knew it the high snowbanks disappeared from the down town core and other heavily travelled areas of town For the most part this was done under cover of dark when the rest of us were sleeping Many drive ways in town hadn t even been shovelled yet but downtown showed little evidence of a disaster as Frank of the works staff had labelled the storm Even the biggest com plainer would have little to gripe about when it came to the works department and their dedication last week Even Wednesday garbage pick up went off as usual though most of the men had been put on snow detail We haven t heard of one complaint from the public about snow plowing or removal unlike days following other snowfalls this winter It could be the town service is improving or the public is becoming more patient or perhaps a bit of both We dont know but we like it And while were throwing bouquets lets toss one to the unsung heroes the families of the plow operators They are the ones who have to put up with their spouse leaving for work at 3 a and have to try to sleep knowing their husbands are in terrible weather travelling slippery roads and may not be home for hours Its a fact of life in Canada the snow is going to fall and someone has to clean it up And even though its their job a pat on the back for a job well done is still appreciated Trustees confused substitute Lent starts today Today Ash Wednesday Christians all over the world start observing Lent the days set aside for penance and self denial The custom started in the early days of the Church fol lowing the example of Jesus who according to the Scrip tures spent days in the wilderness in fasting and prayer Through the centuries the observance of Lent has led to excesses in mortification and fasting with self immol in countries where emotions run high Christians in Canada especially those in the liturgical churches have always observed Lent with varying amounts of zeal It was mandatory for in stance in the Roman Cath olic Church to fast and observe meatless days ing the entire si weeks til a few years ago The rules were made in less rigorous times and climes and the 2nd Vatican Council left it for individual Catholics to set their own standard of penance and prayer Human nature being what it is it is obvious Lent is not observed with the same rigidity it once was but once again on Ash Wednesday the Church is reminding Christians it is time to think of prayer pen and selfdenial The call for self denial is scoffed at by some who want no personal tions but it is ironical some of them will go through the same exercises to lose weight or maintain health After a long Canadian winter it is often difficult to start a program of self denial but unless medical opinion deems otherwise the observance of Lent can confer both physical and spiritual benefits on the penitent Dear Sir Re Substitute teachers in upset pay rollback seems the Board in its his strayed fir may from what mi the supply teachers were concerned about originally Our main for upset was the fact that we were granted a raibe now are being asked or told ogive it back Clearly they ire confused Would it not be much eisier for them to admit to having undo a mistake and to leave our wages alone I believe it would be much simpler and create less friction if they just left the current levels be and for the next one or two years not grant us an increase This would allow them more time figure out how much of an in crease lo award themselves for driving allowances John Hansen Follow Bonnettes lead Dear Su it is about time that like Councillor Rick Bonnette came along Here we have a man who really wants to do something for Acton Since the town does not offer its citizens much in the way of services I sure that a VIA trainstop in town would be greatly appreciated by every one I believe that It is time people follow Mr Bonnette fine example stop complaining about not being on the mop In stead do something that makes Acton deserve to be recognized Mary Would use VIA to commute The following letter was sent to Councillor Rick and riled with the Free Press for Dear Mr Bonnette My husband and I would like to voice our support for reinstating VIA rail service to Acton We have lived here for eight months and both commute daily to Toronto to work Given the present schedule of VIA rail trains between and Toronto m husband would be able to travel doily on the train leaving Toronto p arriving Acton m Unfortunately I would not be able to use daily commuter service as I work in the North west section of Toronto quite a distance from Union Station However this would save us one trip lo Georgetown and back to Acton by car dally which is presently required to make use of the GO commuter trim We would use the service occasionally when spending time in Toronto evenings and possibly an occasional trip to Guelph Visitors arriving at Union Station would use the VIA Rail service to Acton several times a year The VIA rail service would be a good sales point for real estate in the area as well and would be most useful for those of us who Mould prefer to seek employment near Acton Ouch as in Guelph without having to purchase another ear We most emphatically support reinstatement of VIA rail service to Acton Yours sincerely David and Julie Philip Just a thought Age is a quality of mind A re dead if you veletyour Thenyoua Dreams behind If hope is cold If you no longer look ahead If your ambitious fires It is not by the gray of the hair That one knows the age of the heart Coles slaw Even in retirement Trudeau is a contradiction Thi announcement by Prime r Pierre last week thai hi would retire as soon as the I iberals could elect a new leader led to reaction from the Some cheered Some jeered Others were sad I had a different reaction It made me Ihink or the time luck in 1938 or when King purge I and his Queen Elizabeth visited Canada All the public school kids in town were as and taken to June Hon I rain lo see their majesties who wire scheduled to stop in Guelph at the mam station and take short tour Then they would stand on he back of he royal coach as it wended its way slowly through he enormous crowds of children and adults at Guelph Junction a couple of miles down the track waited for hour In the hoi ling sun for the royal couple to appear A nun appeared and But It was just he guard rain sent ahead to clear the way It flopped afterwards a portly aiding man down from one of he coaches and started shaking hands A went through the crowd Who was if they wanted know Someone from our class more op on current events said IT Mackenzie King the prime The scant recognition paid our prime minister of the time always makes me wonder what the reaction would have been if the prime minister had been Pierre Instead of Mackenzie King Communications today arc much more sophisticated and the general public is much more aware of their public figures so it is not a fair comparison but somehow I doubt if the figure of Mackenzie King could ever have cut the swath Pierre Trudeau has in Canadian history It should really have been no sur prise that he picked February to announce his retirement As Iona Campagnola Liberal party head says we should have known he would pick that day As far as I concerned alt this babble about wandering through a blizzard to make a decision is sop for the dailies always looking for the usual angle But the leap year date is a symbol of the contradiction Mr Trudeau has left us with about himself Lower case please After IS years in power Trudeau a virtual institution in Canada and whether yon liked it or not a symbol of Canada to the outside world He was and Is despised ad mired loved hated maligned praised lampooned pitied and the subject of hist about every other possible emotion Mr has been blamed for almost every disaster that baa by Hartley Coles Managing Editor occurred within his time of office ranging from unemployment last snowstorm which dumped week And asked how much power a prime minister really has is re ported to have replied About per cent The per cent is locked in the system He has been praised as the savior of Canada and the of confederation completely opposite reactions to It makes one think hat where he was concerned any stick was good enough to beat the dog Even within his own party Mr Trudeau precipitated different reactions It has been said he was the biggest asset for the Liberals also their biggest liability And one cm I help thinking he like Illicit Butler really give a damn dashing figure with the fresh rose in his lapel the swinging image glamorous companions the marriage and subsequent breakup with a western beauty captivated us Used more pragmatic politi ho oozed respectability and respect rather than charm and that much misused charisma conferred an image on Tru he could possibly live up to his best days When the Trtidcaumania died down and we found out he was human like all of us there was disappointment a turning away which was shown in the election of which he and I iberals lost ficklcaswoareweputhfm back in power on the first opportunity months later explaining that the much touted arrogance had been lamed by defeat But our lovehate relationship continued Polls show although he is cons id ered is best man to lead the the electorate wanted a Who then is this man who had such effect on the country He is still a contradiction He ts the man who brought our constitution from Britain gave us the Charter of Rights He is the man who almost single handed stood up to Quebec Premier Bene and his separatist minions and made sure Quebec would stay in Canada Through the official languages act he enabled French Canadians founders of Canada to deal with national government on the same basis as their English speak ing brethren a measure which made some unhappy Trudeau was an impressive spokesman for Canada in the inter national arena and he and his government made Canadians more aware of foreign domination of their economy His appointments reflected his commitment to creating opportunities for all Canadians regardless of race religion or culture Future generations will look back at Mr Trudeau shimmering intellect ability to bring out the best and worst in us and wonder what he sail about His liabilities have been well known such as Ihe decision to impose wageprice con rols ihe infamous Foreign Be view Board or the energy policy which devastated the West The decisions he and his government made were bones of contention especially geographically It heightened the contradictions about Mr held across the country I suspect he will go down in his lory as a contradictory figure respected and revered by some ana disliked and scorned by others Back issues years ago March If the town of Hills and the Acton Lions con come to some amicable agreement at a special meeting another SIS in govern ment grants may be available tor the Lions swimming pool project in Acton What it is like to make a speech is how Tyler was the top contender in the public speaking contest held last Thursday afternoon Bennett Public School Other participants were Grant Clarke Janet Rowc Darlcnc Roach Chafe and Shelley Young Hills council turned thumbs down on a new area pro gram coordinator for the recreation department Monday night rejecting an administration committee recommendation The firing of truck drivers at Duffer In Quarry last week has lead independent truckers boycott a number of quarry farms in the Peel area Long time staff member at the Robert Little School Mrs Jane Gamble is retiring at the end of June 20 years ago March 5 1964 Tears of happiness were shed in the fogenshrouded airport at Malton Tuesday evening as Mr and Mrs Peter were reunited for first time in 35 After trying for the past 12 years to get his wife out of Russian occupied Ukraine Pete efforts were re warded as his wife stepped down from the plane shortly after it landed in Malton Monday evening High School Board members finalized a 196165 teacher salary schedule after it had been accepted by staff members Minimum salary is up to The principal will be making A leap year baby a daughter- was born at Guelph General Hospital to Mrs Wayne Scott 141 Popular Ave the morning of Satur day February The family has three other children Brian Moore delivered the child who II only have an official birthday every four years 50 years ago March 1 1 Five of the unemployed men of Acton have been put to work on the second line road project They are taken to work and brought home again by Chief MacPherson and meals are eaten in the building at formerly used for a Sunday School The Acton Junior hockey learn won the coveted Smith trophy from Georgetown for this first time in five years Norm Morton chalked up four of the counters Acton players are Byrne E Mario Tyler Morton Marshall I Mario Lantz Molozzl Gibbons Jack Morton is manager Georgetown Council Is considering appointment of a permanent Clerk and Treasurer for the town a com office 75 years ago March 4 1 Signs of spring have begun to manifest themselves as March came in like a lamb Miss Luella Z Drake lady baritone of New York who Is spending the week In town sang with fine effect the well known Sparrow Song in the Methodist Church on Sunday The cities are evidently getting rid of their tramps for the country Is be visited by them En large Hardly a night goes by that the cells in Ihe town hall are not by them Seven weeks ago today Mr George Dills was seriously injured in a train accident id After being carefully nursed bock to health Mr Dills was able to return home on Friday 100 years ago March 18S4 An immense quantity of brick and Canada Glove Works factory to be erected next summer We are pleased to learn that Mr El am Livingstone Tor many years an Acton boy is carrying on a very successful lumbering business near BIyth always was a steady boy and minded his and Within the past six months 31 new families have moved to Acton and taken up residence here Mr Storey of the Canada Glove Works Informs us that orders are in so rapidly for spring goods that the firm is obliged to keep the entire staff work until nine