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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1998 THE NEW TANNER Acton chorus members bound for Europe By FRANCES NIBLOCK The New Tanner - Fourteen Acton kids are learning new songs, check- ing out maps of Europe and counting the days until they, as members of the Georgetown Children's Cho- tus, leave for-their April 11 concert tour of Holland, Bel- gium and France. "T hope that this trip is a major experience that will teach me about Canadians and people of the other coun- tries that we will visit," ex- plained Chorus member Kimberly Freeland, 13, of Acton in an interview Sun- day. "The tour is going to be a lot of work and we won't have time to have a lot of fun but it will be fun to be there. Some of my friends are jeal- ous and it is a pretty big wow to be going." The idea for the trip, called the Ambassadors of Peace tour, was first raised by a member of the Georgetown Choral Society, which went to Holland as part of the 50" ceremonies marking the D- Day invasion. Children's Chorus spokesperson Lois Fraser said 75 children and 50 adults are booked on the trip which is designed as a cul- tural exchange with empha- sis on giving recognition to the soldiers and veterans of WW [and WW 2. "The main thrust of the tour is that we are going over there to be part of the Re- membrance services that they have," Fraser explained in an interview on Friday. "We'll sing.at Vimy Ridge in France, we're having our own Canadian service and will sing patriotic songs and songs of peace. We will also sing at a memorial service in Holland and one of the high- lights is a planned trip to the largest exclusively Canadian cemetery in Houlten, Hol- land." Chorus members, some parent chaperones and help- ers will be billeted at Dutch homes and will also stay one night on a boat and also at a youth hostel. Sightseeing trips will include a visit to Ann Frank's house, a mon- key zoo and a tour of the trenches at Vimy Ridge. Fraser said that even those Chorus members who are not making the trip to Europe have been learning the mu- sic that will be preformed by what is being called the Hol- land choir. "They've learned the Dutch national anthem and a number of traditional Dutch pieces along with songs that celebrate peace and some foot-stomping songs and one Latin piece. One of our 13-year-old choir members has written a piece that we will perform on the trip," Fraser said. With 26 Acton members of the various choirs that the Georgetown Children's cho- rus has, Fraser said that Acton plays a large role in the chorus. "There is an incredible group from Acton. The Acton kids are real go-getters and there is very strong in- volvement from Acton par- ents of Chorus members," Fraser said. Chorus members have been raising funds to help pay for the trip for the past few months and have $24,000 in the kitty so far with several more fundraising events sched- uled, including five concerts in April, ending with a Sun- day, April 26 concert at the 1 Centre for Performing s. Estate lots to proceed The new owner of a pro- posed rural estate subdivision in the Crewson's Corners tural cluster on Acton's west- ern boundary intends to be- gin construction On the de- velopment this year. That news, after six years of inactivity on the planning file and several planning ap- proval extensions, led Town planning staff to support the owner's request for another one-year extension of draft approval for the 14-lot devel- opment at the north-east cor- ner of 32 Side Road and Highway 7. The Town approved the development seven years ago; the draft approval exten- SINGING TRAVELERS: Fourteen Acton singers are preparing for an April trip to Europe with the Georgetown Children's Chorus on its Ambassador of Peace tour. Some of the excited girls include Jennifer Ellis and Catherine Hynds (kneeling left and right). sion expires March next year. Although the developer has fulfilled none of the condi- tions of draft approval, the new owner wants to register the plan as soon as possible Middle row: Lindsey Dunn, Jennifer Grierson, Heather Ellis. Back row: Kimberly Freeland, Rita Matton, Brittany Youngblut. Absent are Megan Detlor, Caitlin Lichty, Tracy McLaughlin and Shan- non Tunney. _ Halton chairman calls for unity By FRANCES NIBLOCK ~ The New Tanner Halton's top politician made a plea for honest and open communication and for a unified front at the Halton Hills general committee meeting on Monday night. Halton chairman Joyce Savoline had a fairly simple message for Town council- lors -- that they all provide services to one taxpayer and it pays to work together with as much trust and openness as possible and to be partners in providing services effi- ciently and cost-effectively. "We are being asked by levels of government to find even more efficiencies and ways to provide services and I think we have a responsi- bility to do that collectively and in a unified way," Savoline said, adding that the benefit would not just be fi- nancial, but would also help protect Halton against what Savoline sees as a "much big- ger entity that looms to our east." Savoline said that being the smallest region (in the Greater Toronto Area), Halton has a responsibility to band together to understand its common issues and to let the people know how impor- tant it is for Halton to remain a separate entity. Savoline said that a "uni- fied Halton" is the best defense against a situation They are: Our Deadlines While we're still working some bugs out of our system, The New Tanner does have its deadlines established for our --_ SS Editorial: Monday 5 p.m. Display ads: Tuesday 5 p.m. Classified ads: Tuesday 5 p.m. -THe SMOKE SHOPPE- 56 Mill St. East, Acton Unit A 853-0411 Serving Acton for Over 25 Years Tobacco, Lotteries, Used Books (on the United Church parking lot) where the Region might find itself being an unwilling partner. Savoline told councillors that she would like to see a "seamless administration" in Halton with accountability the at a political level, but also a system where taxpay- ers don't see a ripple in how services are delivered. "Given the magnitude and the kinds of reductions in spending that we're being asked to make I don't think that any service is sacred and everything ought to be up for discussion. We owe it to our- selves and to our communi- ties to best protect the char- acter of our communities and the investment that's been made by looking at the dif- ferent ways of doing things," Savoline said. aie SPRING Is Not Far Away! Redoing your wardrobe? Cleaning those cupboards? Don't throw out that old clothing and small household items. THE SALVATION ARMY aH Hal THRIFT STORE cant REUSE and RECYCLE them. Call us at 853-5610 or 853-1140 Items may be dropped off at the Thrift Store 120 Mill Street East, Acton Monday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Thank you for thinking of others! a x and has hired consultants to complete the design work. Hurry In For Best Selection! Plush Pillow Top Mattress Sets Ccomeaoneked Now $699 Chest Freezers From $289 3 pc. 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