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Neighbourhood Watch revival set for Acton? BY FRANCES NIBLOCK "Do Acton residents feel any safer in their homes because of local community policing programs?" That is the question Sergeant Al McWhirter is asking himself as he takes over as the new Halton Hills crime prevention officer. McWhirter will use the safety and well-being question as the test when he introduces new crime fighting programs in Acton. "With the help of village constable Bill Riddle we will begin several community policing promotions including a revival of the Neighbourhood Watch program in Acton, which is not good and not active," McWhirter explained last week. "There is good involvement in community projects but the Neighbourhood Watch program is not active." McWhirter says a re-organization of Acton officers and the help of a Neighbourhood Watch volunteer co-ordinator should bring the program back on stream. To become part of Neighbourhood Watch over half of people living in an area must agree to take part in the program. In Acton's 13 policing zones McWhirter is looking for volunteers who will watch each other's homes and report all suspicious activity to a block captain, who will then pass it along to police. "Neighbourhood Watch will be an important part of making Acton people feel a little bit safer. But I also want our Acton community officer and village constable to be seen on a daily basis by residents, not just in a parade or when their is a crime," McWhirter concluded. Birthday celebration continues at Acton Baptist Church Acton's Baptist Church is throwing a big birthday party next Sunday (July 26) and you're invited! The Mill Street church is 150 years old and Sunday's party is the third of four special services and theme events planned this year to commemorate its origins in Acton. All residents are'invited to attend a special church service Sunday morning and to stay for the fun afterwards, which will include a barbecue, games, music, puppet show and historical slide show. The church will hold a croquet competition, with the winner receiving an anniversary history book and collector's plate. For children there will be a scavenger hunt and a clown with balloons. The church service begins at 10 am. For more details, interested citizens may contact Pat Bidney at 853-4130. Gopher Baroque to entertain at arena The Town's Summer Programs announced yesterday (Monday) that children's musical sensation Gopher Baroque has been added to the Nickel Carnival line-up. From Kingston, the duo is known for their intricate harmonies, unusual repertoire and offbeat humour. The group provides a lively selection of music for all ages and will complement the booths, games and vendors at the Annual Carnival next Wednesday, 7 to 9 pm at the arena. HOLD YOUR NOSE! Prospect Park's wading pool has been seeing lots of activity in recent days, as our town's youth have battled the humid weather. On Saturday we caught this trio of bathers at different stages of duutUng. From left are David Lockwood, 6, Ryan Little, 11, and Stefanie McDonnell, 7. (Photo by Paul Nolan.) Town to study "dangerous" road BY FRANCES NIBLOCK Halton Hills staff will study a dangerous stretch of road in response to local politicians'concemsabout vehicle and pedestriansafety. The road in question is the Sixth Line, north of Highway 7, where there have been five or six accidents in as many years. Acton councillor Rick Bonnette said Wednesday, that with only 400 cars using the road on a daily. The accident statistics make it "one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the municipality. "The one-kilometre section of the Sixth Line north of Highway 7 has several curves and hills and there are lots of pedestrians. There are a lot of small children in the area,"Bonnette said. Last year residents of the Sixth Line presented council with a petition calling for improved safety. Town staff admit the Sixth Line is a winding road with deficient sight distances, however its accident history is lower than average for what is accepted as normal for straight, hard-surfaced roads, even though it is a gravel road. Bonnette says possible options for improving safety include pedestrian and winding-road signs, chevrons and guardrails. Former Acton woman dies in accident Funeral services will be held in Acton tomorrow (Wednesday) for former Acton resident Anne Elizabeth (Watson) Staples, who died in a single-vehicle automobile accident Saturday in Ingersoll. Ontario Provincial Police report that Ms. Staples, 42, was a passenger in a 1926 Model-T Ford being driven by her husband Richard. While driving on Oxford County Road 9, Mr. Staples reportedly lost visibility in a heavy rain and hail storm. The car slid on the wet road and struck a tree on the opposite shoulder. Both Mr. and Ms. Staples were taken to Ingersoll Hospital and then Ms. Staples was transferred to London's Victoria Hospital, where she died. Richard Staples was treated for minor injuries.