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WEDNESDAY. APRIL 19, 2000 Tough, but right, choice Thumbs up to the Acton father who turned in his 14-year-old son whose recent wild vandalism spree ended in $6,000 damage to 11 Tyler Transport school buses. The father. who can't be identi- fied to protect the identify of his son who is charged as a Young Offender, said it was "difficult" to turn his son in--he insists a nine-year-old brother had nothing to do with the vandal- ism -- but said he couldn't " hide" him from the law and parents have got to show kids that they can't get away with vandalism, Ask, and they will give Acton Cancer Society volunteers know the few hours they spend can- vassing does enormous good -- $30,000 was raised in last year's door- to-door campaign. The canvassing job is easy with Acton's on-going generosity and there are still some areas without volunteers - specifically Kingham Road, Brock Avenue, Vic- toria Street and in Esquesing. If you can help call Liz Bailey at 853-0585, Trinity United Church will recog- nize all Acton Canadian Cancer Soci- ety volunteers at a special service on April 30 at 10 a.m. Technicolour talent Two local girls will be signing their hearts out in 12 up-coming sold-out shows of Georgetown Globe Produc- tions' Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. Heather Ellis. 12, of Acton and Laurel Tubman, 13, of Rockwood, are in the children's cho- tus which is on-stage for almost the entire show. "They've got the stage bug now. They've both got wonderful voices and were in Annie and they're hooked," the girls' music teacher, Rockwood's Debbie Tilson said. The demand for Joseph tickets was so great that additional shows were added to the run that begins tonight. Dance moves The venue will change, but the fun and atmosphere will remain the same as the Acton Kinette Club holds an- other of its very popular teen dances next Friday (April 28,) at the Acton arena. "The dances have become.so popular, especially with the parents because they are so well run, I just want people to realize that it's the same people running, them," Kinette Club spokesperson Nanci Chiasson said, adding the change is permanent. The doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $5. Susan Lindsay up date Good news for family and friends of former Acton resident Susan GRAPEVIN . ay Lindsay, 30, who is recovering from an extremely rare fungal infection in an American research hospital. Dad, Jim Lindsay, reported late last week that a fractured vertebra in Susan's back has healed and her re- habilitation continues, Friends are organizing a benefit dance for the family to help defray the enormous costs. It's June 9, at the Legion, and tickets are $20 and available at Home Hardware, Blooms Away. the olde Hide House, the olde Book House or by calling 853-2057. Watch for news about tickets for raf- fle prizes including airfare and a week in Florida, gas barbecue and leather goods. Lens regret Ireally regretted not having a cam- era late last week when I a saw a touching scene -- a real Hallmark Easter moment -- on a farm just west of Silvercreek. The fenced yard was full of sheep --all shapes and sizes milling around, eating and enjoying the nice weather. Lying near a hay bale was a ewe, one lamb at her side and its twin on top of her, sound asleep in the noon sun, safe and sound and very com- fortable. Nice ay Two freak falls in the long program by a veteran skater (an almost un- heard scenario) contributed to the disappointing seventh place finish by the Ice Image Juvenile synchronized skating team - which includes two local skaters - at the recent world championships in Minneapolis. Ac- ton's Bronwyn Marshall and Jenn May of Rockwood, are both former Acton Figure Skating Club members who skate with Ice Image and attend university. The team, which placed second at the Canadian championships, is tak- ing a couple of weeks off and then tryouts begin for next season. Good food and gabbin Tired of cooking? Looking for some stimulating brunch conversa- tion and a chance to talk with friends, and maybe make some new ones? Don't miss the second Acton Community Brunch next Sunday (April 30) at Acton High School (note the location change.) The all-you-can-eat buffet is a great deal at $5 per person - preschoolers are free - and profits are used where they are most needed in the community. Profits from the wil successful first brunch last mon were shared by Acton seniors, Trin- ity United church (for loan of their utensils), the Rotary club of Acton and the Acton Concerns Group. The brunch runs from 9:30 a.m. to lpm. C x eer --8\ v ------ Thoughts with Lindsays during this t To the editor, * After reading the article "Acton Woman Battles Rare Disease," I was very moved by the dedication of Susan's family. The emotional, physi- cal and financial strain must be tre- mendous, but still their daughter's well being is above all. Many times as a parent..we put aside our own needs for the ones we love, especially our children. Upon reading that Mr. Lindsay had been relieved of his employment, I was very angry. It disgusts me that there are peo- ing time ple in sche country that are as unfeeling, uncompassionate and selfish as the indivi who made that decision against Mr. Lindsay at a time when support is of the utmost importance - whether it be family, friends or co-workers. That individual should pray to God that he/she never find themselves on the other side of the fence - what goes around, comes around. Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay, our thoughts are with you and your fam- ily during this trying time. Karen and Kim Haddon & family CUTE GAMES: It was the 1940's, Esther Taylor was the Akela of Acton 1 Wolf Cubs, when Michael Hurst and Grant Withers played this game of blind man's buff at the scout hall on the School Lane. The object is a play hand gun, a toy which would not be so acceptable today. The photo was loaned by Nan Hurst who believes Miss Taylor took the photo. , rc The Prime Minister is finishing up his 12 day debacle -- er -- I mean official trip to the Middle East. So far he has managed to insult or upset the Israelis, the Palestinians, the Lebanese, the Syrians and probably the Americans. At least he hasn't started a real shootin' war, as this area is prone to . But then, this piece is being written on Sun- day, before the 11 o'clock news, so anything is possible. As long as I can remember some of the best brains in the world have been trying to bring peace to the Middle East. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost, and hundreds of billions of dollars spent, looking for a solution to a problem that dates back thousands of years. To date, all that has been accom- plished is a tantalizing scent of a solution. Negotiations are at the critical level. Into this quagmire blunders "dat liddle guy." In. four days he managed to cheese-off most of the protagonists, and cause, who know how much dam- age. We can only hope that the players over there realize our P.M. is less than a bit player on the in- ternational scene and give his opin- ions, and adivce, the scant notice they deserve. Like the people in western Canada do. What in the world is he doing over there in the first place? I know that Lester Pearson won the Nobel peace prize for his work on the Suez crisis. I know that we have a few peace-keepers on the Golan Heights. Iam not aware of any sig- nificant reason why the P.M. would think we carry any weight over there, other than his own sense of self-importance, of course. So why is he in the Middle East? Why for 12 days? Is this some kind of farewell grand tour, a la Brian Mulroney? One can only hope. Does he think that, because Canada is head of the UN Security Council for a whole month, that he has become a states- man by osmosis? Is he trying to steal Lloyd Axworthy's shot at a Nobel prize? The major players on the world \ stage go to the Mideast for a few The Way I See It with Mike O'Leary days as a photo-op. The real work has already been done by the flun- kies. Even the Pope was only there for a week and he had three religions to appease. Our P.M. needs to be there for 12 days? The only plausible reason I can think of is that he didn't want to be in town when the Sena- tors get trounced by the Maple Leafs in the playoffs. That at least makes some sense. I have a favour to ask of MPP Julian Reed. Please, Mr. Reed, con- tact the PM's office and keep him away from India/Pakistan, China and Russia. You could be saving the hu- man race from global thermonuclear war. Successive generations will sing your praises, Julian. Thank you. kkkk Moses showed up in Prince George last week. He gave us the 11" commandment. "Thou shalt not sur- render your guns." Don't be waiting for a movie to follow. For some rea- son Charlton Heston, once Moses, now president of the USA National Rifle Association (NRA) inserted himself into the national debate on gun registration. "Registration means confiscation," he thundered. And the critics. howled. "Are you offended by Charlton Heston's remarks?" asked the radio stations. Surprisingly many callers agreed with Heston. Others were fu- rious that the NRA would dare to in- terfere in a Canadian matter. All the time I kept wondering why anyone would care what Charlton Heston and the NRA says. The man is, after all, the northbound end of a southbound horse. This is the guy, remember, who opined that the shootings at Colombine could have been pre- vented if the teachers had been armed. When good 'ol boy Chuck parts the waters of lake Ontario with this Mensch or menace? AK-47 then, and only then, will I pay him any attention. Actually, if screwballs like Heston ever get their way the waters of Lake On- tario are more likely to be vapor- ized ina nuclear flash than parted. But that's another story. It's not that I agree with the reg- istration of long guns. I don't. I think the whole exercise is a boondoggle but the Federal gov- ernment to cover up the fact they have no intention of attacking the real problemi. That is, punks who use illegal handguns while com- mitting a crime. As a Canadian I am appalled at the numbers of guns showing up in Toronto. I will support any real effort to address this issue. I oppose the govern- ment's plan to register some farm- er's varmint rifle. I am personally insulted that they would consider me so naive as to believe this leg- islation will do anything more than make law-abiding citizens crimi- nals, tax the middle class even more, and be a black hole for your tax dollars and mine. But will they get tough and throw away the keys on those folks who blithely ignore the existing legislation banning unregistered firearms? Not on your life (no pun intended). There's no money, no bureaucracy, no empire building in that. No headline, no publicity and therefore no chance that this gov- ernment will address the issue. The Prime Minister will not act to stop the shootings on our streets but thinks he should inter- fere in the Mideast. Go figure. I heard a good one concerning guns the other day so let me leave you with this story: O'Clancy goes to Fr. O'Grady and she's in tears. "What's the mat- ter?" asked the good priest. "Oh Father, says she, "My husband Paddy passed away last night." "Mary, that's terrible. But tell me, did he have any last requests?" "That he did," she said. The priest says, "What did he ask?" father, right after I came home and found him in bed with Mrs. O'Toole he said 'Mary, for the love of God, put down that gun Mary "Well, 2 cae