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5 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday, February 8, 2011 As the donated jeans pile up at Silver Creek Public School, Grade 8 students Jade Martin (left) and Bret Rothery found themselves buried in more than 219 pairs of jeans, which will be donated to local shelters and charities. Photo by Ted Brown For these students it's in the jeans Students at Silver Creek Public School are collecting "gently used" pairs of pants in a contest that they hope will result in the building of a unique outdoor learning and play centre in Georgetown South. So far, the students have collected more than 200 pairs of jeans and estimate they'll have to at least reach the 500 mark by Friday's deadline (Feb. 11) in order to win $5,000 from the Aeropostale apparel and accessories company. The untorn jeans will be donated to local shelters and charities, with all sizes needed for youths and adults. Silver Creek's student parliament has decided that if successful with the North America-wide contest, they'll donate the prize money to the construction of the Ubuntu Art-Village Project. Jeans can be dropped off at the main office at the school, located at 170 Eaton St. Anyone wishing to support to the Ubuntu Art-Village Project can download a donation card at http://chatt.hdsb.ca/~scps/web/ #ALL2OTARY'LENFORMOREINFO 888305"3:(-&/$" 2VFFO4USFFU8FTU#SBNQUPO0/-:# Seniors victim of `granddaughter' scam Halton Police are warning area seniors to be on the alert after two elderly Acton residents were bilked out of $11,200 in a telephone scam. Police say over the past week fraudsters got the money out of two local seniors, and tried to get money from a third victim using the "granddaughter scam." In the past week the three seniors were contacted by a female identifying herself as a "granddaughter". The victims unfortunately responded by asking, "Is that you...(their granddaughter's name)", unwittingly providing the caller with an identity. In each case the caller indicated she is calling from Quebec and has been involved in a collision while driving a rental car and the car rental company is demanding $3,500 in cash. The caller then asks grandma if she will wire the money through Western Union to a named individual in Montreal. After an hour or so, the victim receives a second call to determine if the money transfer has been made. At this point a money transfer control number is given to the "granddaughter" so she can authenticate the pickup. One victim wired $3,900 and a further $3,500, a second victim sent $3,800 by wire but coincidentally the following day when the "granddaughter" called back to ask for a further $4,500 her mother happened to be visiting grandma and the ruse was exposed. The third victim avoided being defrauded when she became suspicious of the call and took steps to verify her granddaughter's whereabouts, before making any promises of assistance. Police say there are a variety of scams where the fraudster poses as a relative, ranging from collisions, needing bail money to being stranded in another country. To protect yourself police recommend: · Ask the caller for a call back number, which allows you to verify information. Be suspicious if the caller refuses. · Ask the caller a personal question only your grandchild would know. · Speak to another family member before you send any money even if your grandchild has asked you not to. · Do not divulge any personal information over the phone particularly when involving finances of any kind. · Do not blindly follow the directions of anyone who calls you on the phone. · If you don't feel comfortable with the situation say no and hang up. For further crime prevention and safety tips go to: haltonpolice.ca/communitypolicing/seniors/pages/default.aspx or haltonpolice.ca/communitypolicing/safetysecurity/pages/default.aspx Solemn Blessing and Dedication of the new Holy Cross Catholic Church Sunday, February 13th, 2011 3:00 p.m. Additional Masses for those unable to attend the Dedication Mass on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. in Saint Brigid School Gym (Miller Drive) (No Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass) Open House Sunday, February 20th, 2011 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. All are welcome