The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1996 THE GEORGETOWN GEMINI GIMP WNL. Diversity workshop Some 30 North Halton groups were represented at a unique anti-oppres- sion workshop on Saturday, hosted by the North Halton Cultural Aware- ness Council. Billed as a "Welcoming Diver- sity Workshop" the day-long semi- nar was an attempt at self-education by the Council, which aims to com- bat racism through education. Council chair Elizabeth Carmichael said she hoped the semi- nar would help participants -- in- cluding, among others, three police forces, several Town councillors, Scouts Canada and the Halton Board ofEducation--to enhance their skills and support efforts to make Halton Hills a safer community in which to live and work. Call for 'Grandteachers' Holy Cross School is looking "Grandteachers" -- seniors who are willing to share their time and a lifetime ofknowledge with the class- room. Grandteachers are older people who work in the classrooms, shar- ing their special talents with stu- dents and acting, in some cases, as surrogate grandparents to students who don't have a senior figure in their lives. Grandteachers create a rapport between the generations, show stu- dents how to celebrate life in all its phases and help eliminate stereotyp- ing of all generations. Grandteachers benefit from the program by getting the satisfaction of sharing their talents with recep- tive students, gain insight into what makes young people tick anda sense of respect from the students and teachers about the skills and re- sources the senior brings to the school. For more information about the "Grandteacher" program call Holy Cross School at 877-4451. Rainy weekend plays havoc on events The outer edges of Hurricane Fran left its mark in Georgetown, and the disappointment that went with it. In addition to various events be- ing canceled at the Fall Fair, a bar- becue hosted by the North Halton Literacy Guild had to be postponed until Sept. 21, the Kinsmen Girls Select Softball championships were postponed until further notice anda charity softball game between the staffs of Canadian Tire and Zellers has to be scrubbed until a further date has been set. Georgetown Fair tickets honoured in Acton Because of the disappointing weather last weekend, the Acton Fall Fair (Sept. 20-22) will honour unused Georgetown tickets at the Acton Fall Fair. Simply turn them in at the fair gate and join us for a fun- filled day. HEY! "Seeing all the animals and going on the rides. The pie at the St. (Church) booth was good." Lindsay Fendley, 12, Margaret Street "Out of the horses and I "The best thing was the Gravitron (ride). There wasn't much to do this year. There was hardly anything." James Boynton, 14, Cedarvale Court What was the best thing about the Georgetown Fall Fair? "(The RCMP Musical Ride), I would like to be a mounted police. I think it looked cool." Leah Fendley, 8, Margaret Street Andrew's animals, I liked the Mountie liked the rides a lot." Laura Casey, 11, Wilson Court TOWN POLITICS: The old town hall and public library was the centre of much activity in old Georgetown. The mayors and councillors of the time dealt with the problem associated with a growing town. (photo courtesy of the ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY) By way of introduction ... a few thoughts It's been about a month since I came on board at The Gemini, and, I've gotta tell you, ithas gone a long way toward restoring my faith in an in- dustry I had come to despise. Without getting into details, de- tails I'd be quite happy to forget, this opportunity came along at just the right time for me. The opportu- nity to work in your home town, with people you' ve known for years, driving around streets without hav- ing to reach for a street atlas, all have some appeal. Hell, they' ve got a lot of appeal. One of my great joys in this busi- ness was writing columns, some- thing I haven't had an opportunity to do thus far at The Gem. Our usual columnist, Mike O'Leary wrote something this week that was fairly Acton specific (The Gem and The Acton Tanner share editorial copy when appropriate), so I seized the chance to get back to my first love. So, without further delay, I thought I would be sanctimonious enough to share a few thoughts on Life, the Universe and Everything (with thanks to Douglas Adams) ... A few years ago I decided to sign my organ donation card on the back of my driver's licence. Granted, it was, and still is, a personal choice, but recent events in the lives of a few family members convince me that.my decision was right then, even more right now. Two weeksago, my cousin Brian, 34, got the call he'd been waiting almost four-years for. He was to proceed immediately (do NOT pass go) to Toronto General Hospital. A new kidney would be waiting for him when he got there. A victim of juvenile diabetes, Brian's health had taken a beating over the last few years. Tied to di- alysis three times a week, totally blind and unable to work in his chosen vocation, Brian's new kid- ney will liberate him in more ways than he has known in the past half decade. Because someone took the time The Way I See It P With | Jamie Harrison }. and trouble to donate something they would no longer need, my cousin has a little more freedom. It's hard to argue the logic. It's hard not to become compla- cent in the face of medical miracles. We hear of great new discoveries every day; something that brings the sick and the dying a little closer to a better quality of life. _ Or, for that matter, just a couple of extra days of it. Even wracked with pain, knowing the end is near, most people will still fight to the end. I guess that's why euthanasia still doesn't sit well with a lot of folks. The thought that I should be bur- ied without my organs being har- vested strikes me as wasteful.:My feeling is this: If I'm dead, the chances of my needing to use, say, my eyes, is pretty slim. Those who have been pronounced dead have a shocking ability to stay that way -- dead. Now, I'm willing to make allow- ances for those who have religious or otherwise ethical beliefs that would preclude them from dona- tion. Everybody has a set of beliefs, codified or otherwise. But, to be frank, I just can't wrap my mind around the concept that someone could wantonly throw away some- thing that could mean a world of difference to someone else. Strikes me as throwing away a steak while someone starving looks on. If it sounds like desperation, it should. It 1S. Ask anyone who has been told they are racing a clock. It's that simple. You need a new heart before your old one gives out. It'sa hell ofa waiting game and the players are in it until the bitter end. RKKKK Up until last weekend, I hadn't been to the Fall Fair in years. Now I think I spent more time there this past weekend than J have in all my years combined. I wasn't going to go tothe RCMP Musical Ride Friday, planning on attending Saturday instead. Some- times sober second thoughts are the best ones. What a mess Satur- day turned out to be. For a time I thought I saw someone building an arch over at Park School. I suppose after eight consecu- tive weekends of zero precipita- tion, it eventually had to come, but the timing couldn't have been worse. There was certainly an air of disappointment given all that had been planned, but credit where credit is due, in most cases every- one soldiered on, making the best of a bad situation. Hey, at least Sunday gave us a bit of a reprieve. By the way, class move on be- half of the Acton Agricultural So- ciety. They've offered to honour unused tickets from the Georget- own Fall Fair at the Acton Fall Fair, April 19-22. After almost 90 years the Georgetown and Acton have been reunified in a way. ReRKK Did you ever notice that Andy Rooney, he of 60 Minutes fame, never actually says, "Did you ever notice ...7"? Sort of makes you wish he did, with that nasally voice of his. Actually, I wish he did say it, at least once. That way my friend Jason would be somewhat vindi- cated with his Andy Rooney im- pression. The voice is dead on, but he always starts with, "Did you ever notice ...?" RAK Next week Mike O'Leary re- turns to this spot, his mug appear- ing about five inches north ofhere.