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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1998 GRAPEVIN Ghosts and goodies Believers and skeptics alike are welcome to learn about the ghosts said to inhabit several of Acton's older buildings -- including the old Town Hall---on a special Canada Day Ghost Tour, part of the popular Sam- ple Fest. "T saw my first ghost when I was a child of eight or nine," explained tour leader Ron Hudson, chair of the Halton Hills Tourism Committee. "Tl explain my theories about the paranormal phenomenon during the walking tour. Whether people are believers or not, they seem to have an innate interest in ghosts and through my experiences I've come to some conclusions about why some people can see ghosts and others can't." The Sample Fest ghost tour and a tour of Acton's historical buildings make snack stops at numerous Acton eateries -- you can get tour details and tickets at Wetherby's. Patriotic pyrotechnics At dusk on Canada Day the skies over Fairy Lake will light up in a spectacular 20-minute show of py- rotechnics, thanks to the Acton Fire- fighters Association, which for more than 25 years has staged a fireworks display to mark Canada's birthday. Acton's Herb Dodds, a veteran firefighter who recently retired, started the fireworks tradition. "We used to have a two-day pro- gram for July 1, with a fish derby for the kids and a chicken barbecue with the Rotary Club," Dodds remi- nisced recently, adding that the fire- fighters. ran the refreshment booth at those Canada Day celebrations. "We always made enough money out of that to pay for the fire works, between the Rotary Club and the fire fighters. It was just a way of doing a "Our Surv July 1 thing," Dodds said, adding that over the years it became more expensive until just the fireworks part of the celebration remains. The $5,000 to $6,000 costs for the show are covered by pass-the-hat contributions the night of the display and by donations from local busi- ness. Best viewing spots continue to be the Legion grounds and St. Joseph's school. Credit Union closer to new home The Becker's plaza is going to get a major facelift when Halton Credit Union builds its new Acton branch on the plaza parking lot, facing Churchill Road. Halton Credit Un- ion purchased the plaza recently and is waiting for final Town planning approvals for the proposed 3,500 square foot, one-storey building which will feature a drive-through automated banking machine service. Acton branch manager Harold Postma said along with the new building they plan to "spruce up" the existing plaza to fit in with the look of the new building. Postma said they hope to sell the existing Credit Union building at 273 Queen St. once final municipal approval is given. Gracious gardens The owners of six glorious gar- dens in Acton will allow the paying public to visit their gardens on Sun- day afternoon as part of the Acton Horticultural Society's Garden Tour. Highlights of this year's tour in- clude large showy perennials, beau- tiful ponds with unusual fish and a traditional English cottage style gar- den. For ticket info, call 853-3951. The Society began in 1918 to help Acton residents grow food and plants during World War 1. fe What was best about this school year? When we went to the strawberry farm. We got to see animals, play, eat strawberries and have a drink. Kelsey Kirkpatrick, JK, St. Josephs School Writing stories and gym class. Allison Mills, Grade 3, Robert Little The strike was the best thing. We got to miss school and I played all day with my friends. Mike Grierson, Grade 8, McKenzie-Smith Bennett Meeting other children and getting to know other parents. There are some really nice ones at this school (McKenzie-Smith Bennett). Alison Bennet, caregiver' This week's New Tanner survey by Angela Tyler THE NEW TANNER CELEBRATING 70 YEARS of life these former students of Acton schools had a giant birthday party at the home of Kerwin and Jean McPhail on June 17. They included: Lorna (Frank) Chisholm, Acton, Marg (Bilton) Tennett, Georgetown, Marj (Norton) Loutett, Acton, Jean (Brunelle) Denis, Sudbury, Betty (Britton) McIntyre, Acton, Joyce (Desserault) Perrott, Burlington, Mge (vander Grinten) Walters, Haliburton, Ruth (McDonald) Holmes, Acton, Helen (Holmes) Near, Acton, Betty (Masters) Ashley, Mount Forest, Joan (Rumley ) Floto, Guelph, Marg (Blow) Wood, Kingston, Shirley (Kentner) McKeown, Acton, Bunny (Anderson) Stewart, Sandy Cove, June (Talbot) McHugh, Acton, Delores (Lappin) Jordon, Acton, Jean McPhail, Acton. Lately, it seems that no one is happy with our governments. It looks like the teachers unions are going on strike in the fall. Other unions are going on strike in the job losses at Boeing (McDonnell- Douglas) in Mississauga. Heck, even the panhandlers and squee- gee kids are threatening to scare away tourists if Toronto city coun- cil tries to curb their activities. As one who has done his. fair share of government bashing, I find niyself becoming concerned that, if this trend continues, the business of conducting the affairs of our country could grind to a halt. Now, before the cheering starts, none of us really wants that to hap- pen. We need the services that gov- ernment supplies. In order to con- tinue, however, governments of every stripe need to recapture some of the confidence the people had in them in years past. I'm not go- ing to say that politicians were ever loved but, once elected, those with opposing views would usually hunker down and wait out the time 'till the next election. I don't remember union heads bragging that they will "bring down the government" during the Davis years. Perhaps they did but on one paid any attention. Prime Minister Trudeau passed some pretty unpopular legislation but I can't recall any of the provinces taking his government to court. The free trade agreement and G.S.T. were to say the least, un- opular. Still, once passed, the uror died down somewhat. Granted, the Tories were deci- mated at the next election but that's how the electorate is sup- posed to signal its displeasure. Encouraging people to illegal strikes or, ever worse, inciting stu- dents to riot and attack parliament do not, in my mind, contribute to peace, order and good govern- es _ or why, politi The Way I See It |' with Mike O'Leary ment. Dye been ing to determine how, generally speaking, in such low es- teem. Now obviously, no elected of- ficial will be able to please even most of the people most of the time. Pick up any paper, however, and it's fairly obvious that the situation is much worse than that. Several societal changes may have contributed to the current ma- laise. We live in an information age. The media holds a bigger magnify- ing glass to elected officials than ever before. To tell the truth, sometimes I feel a little sorry for them I'm not sure that I could function if I had hundreds of people questioning my every move but then, I didn't choose politics as a career. Ever since Watergate the relation- ships between government and me- dia has become more and more adversarial. Maybe this is a good thing. Maybe it has gone too far. We boomers instituted wholesale change in the 50's, 50's and 70's. We tend, again generally, to be better educated than our parents. Add the two together and folks today are less prepared to bow to authority than our parents. We did not have a generational military experience. It's not just governments that have lost status in the eyes of the people. Look at the churches, or the police, or doc- tors. It used to be that we did what- ever "the doctor" said. Recently, I had some medical pro- cedures. The hospital staff explained everything so thoroughly and so sim- ply, down to the last detail, that I felt : Perhaps a name change? they were treating me like the vil- lage idiot. "Now this big machine will move over here -- don't be alarmed," she said. By this time I was ready to scream." Get on with it and let me out of here." My Mom and Dad did "what the doc- tor said." They deferred to politi- cians and we won't get into the control of the priest. There are, I'm sure, many ave also ihe factors bul incre been changes in the way mar politicians portray themselves to us. The premier or Prime Minis- ter, and their cabinets, have an agenda. They call it "vision". Come Hell or high water, that agenda, right or wrong, advanced. Throw that arrogance into the pot and we have this situ- ation we see today. I consulted my Webster's and one definition of 'Govern' is 'rule'. Personally, I don't see our elected politicians as rulers. I could make the point though, that too many cabinet types think they are rulers as demonstrated by many of the stores in the news today. Perhaps more than any- thing else, I resent this "I know more than the people do" attitude the most. There's no easy way out of this morass. Perhaps the next genera- tion will do a better job of pick- ing leaders than we did. I believe that some of the basic premises of Parliament must be changed. If back-benchers are not able to rep- resent their constituents then let's get rid of them. If everything we hear about the Internet comes true, we'll all be able to vote on issues from our homes. Maybe a start would be to change the name of government. Let's call them "managers" in- stead. Perhaps, in time, the mes- sage that we're not interested in a fixed term dictatorship will get through. Tay will be yy Got a Beef? Write a letter to the editor! Deadline is Tuesday at noon