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BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN. Acton's downtown streets are much cleaner these days due to Actons' Business Improvement Association and Gary Taillefer of Kingham Road. Gary works each weekday from approximately 6 am to 1 or 2 in the afternoon to clean the downtown area and water plants. Mondays are Gary's busiest days and his one complaint is that some Acton dog-owners are not "stooping" and "scooping" after their pets, making his job much less enjoyable. This part-time position runs from May through October, at which time Gary will be eagerly looking for winter employment. (Photo by Paul Nolan) NEWSSHORTS Escarpment issue escalates Provincial environment minister Ruth Grier announced last Friday that there will not be an environmental study into United Aggregates' plan to expand their quarry south of Regional Road 43. Plans for a review were called for by Ecology Awareness Group Landscape and Environment, a Haltoncitizens' group. According to a press release, issued by the Ministry of the Environment, United Aggregates' expansion plan "was included in the company's 1972 site license under the Pits and Quarries Control Act. The Environmental Assesment Act does not allow for the designation of private sector projects begun before the act was established in January 1977 unless there has been a significant change in a project." If an amendment does occur, it will be issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources under the Aggregate Resources Act. Sunbather followed by man A woman sunbather reported that she was followed by a man who had earlier been using a pair of binoculars to watch her sunbathe on Friday afternoon at Prospect Park. According to police, after noticing the man, the sunbather became very uncomfortable and promptly left the park. Police are looking for a man who is described as having a fair complexion, around 40 years of age. The suspect is approximately 5'8" in height with a slim build and short brown hair. Busy weekend at Hide House Thomas Skeman from Houston, Texas was charged with possession of stolen property Sunday afternoon in Acton. As the accused was exiting the olde Hide House, he set off the store's alarm system. Upon approaching Mr. Skeman, store security found him to be in possession of an unpaid item -- a wallet valued at $35. Shoplifting, again In a similar situation, earl ier in the afternoon on Sunday, police charged Omar Abdolall of Woodstock with theft and possession of stolen property at the olde Hide House. According to police, Mr. Abdolall had with him a cap valued at $29. Conscientious citizens Unknown persons placed two stop signs -- one a Hidden Driveway sign and the other a Stop sign -- at the front doors of the Acton police station on Thursday. Both signs were returned to the Town for replacement. Ginger snaps at jogger While jogging on the Third Line on Thursday afternoon, an Acton man was chased and then bitten by Ginger, a collie dog. The bite broke the skin on the man's upper right thigh causing it to bleed; however he was not taken to the hospital. Property Defaced Paint was used to deface a traffic sign sometime Friday on Young Street in Acton. While the sign received the majority of the damage, the walkway in front of a complainant's home had paint splattered on it. Damage to the sign was between $50 and $100. Traffic was not re-routed. Summertime blues for barbecue Summertime fun was halted this past weekend for one Acton residence when the household barbecue was stolen. Nothing else was reported missing except the all-important unit, valued at $250. The robbery was reported on Sunday.