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THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2000 GRAP Francesco's The mouth-watering rumour is true. A new Italian eatery featuring pasta, sandwiches, salads, desserts, gourmet coffee, espresso and cap- puccino is opening at 35 Mill Street, the vacant Sweet Dreams Café. Francesco's -- named after owner Francesco Lo Turco of Acton -- will hopefully be open at the end of the month if all of the necessary permits and paperwork is complete. While the hours are undecided at this point, Lo Turco plans to open early with coffee and baked goods for the morning crowd and offer homemade, family-oriented dining. Rotary cleanup The eastern entrance into Acton looks a lot nicer thanks to the hard work of Rotary Club of Acton mem- bers and youth volunteers who staged a major litter cleanup on Sat- urday in a five-kilometre stretch of Highway 7 from Churchill Road, east to the Sixth Line. Rotary Club members used some persuasive techniques to enlist help according to Acton Tim Hortons owner John Malinosky, who said he volunteered after it was suggested that his coffee cups are part of the problem. A dozen teens, members of the Evangel Pentecostal Tabernacle Church youth group and some Acton High School students also helped collect approximately 50 bags of gar- bage. I won't run Acton's Gerry Rivers is "amazed" and bemused by persistent rumours that he intends to run for mayor of Halton Hills in the upcoming munici- pal election. "We're hearing it too, but I know nothing about this," Rivers protested on Sunday when asked for confirma- tion or denial, adding his sister from Georgetown, his wife and two local friends also heard the rumour. "This is too bizarre -- this is like a nightmare and as my wife said, I don't have the patience or the demeanor to be a politician and have no plans to run for any office," Rivers said, add- ing he would love to know who started the rumour, and why. EKK Another River's family member is in the news. Congrats to Jackie Riv- ers, 12, one of eight Guides from southern Ontario chosen to attend Tapestry 2000, a national Guiding event this summer in Saskatchewan. Jackie was chosen from among a number of applicants to attend the 10-day celebration to mark the 90th anniversary of Guiding near Regina. Over 800 Guides from across Canada and from international Guide and Scouting groups will attend the 10- day camp, featuring a mix of First Nations and Guiding customs and events. Acton program spreads Looks like the new Community Champion program in Acton has caught on in another community, just like the local organizers hoped it would. The program publicly acknowl- edges the people whose random acts of kindness make this community a nicer place to live. The very first re- cipient, Tim Hortons employee Gail Thompson, was honoured for her unfailing cheerfulness, Turns out a Burlington woman f saw the story in The New Tanner that announced Gail was the first and the woman, a Lions Club member in Burlington, phoned Gail to ask about the program and invite her and the Acton organizers to come and explain how it works. Lottery win Just in time for the barbecue sea- son, lucky Acton Councillor Clark Somerville will be dining al fresco in style after winning a patio furniture set in the Princess Margaret Hospital lottery. Somerville bought the winning $1000 ticket over the phone several months ago and forgot about it until an official letter arrived in the mail, telling him to go to Mississauga to claim his prize. "It's not the $525,000 home, but it's great," Somerville said. The prize is valued between $400 and $500. Superior idea Kudos to Superior Glove Works Limited in Acton for coming up with a unique fundraiser for the Acton branch of the Canadian Cancer Soci- ety. For each customer who returned a satisfaction survey, superior donated $5 to the Cancer Society and presi- dent Cathy Gerrow marveled at the ingenuity of the program, the brain- child of Superior veep Tony Geng who said he often gets surveys con- taining a Loonie or Toonie, enticing and hopefully making him obligating him to fill it out and send it back. "We wanted something a little more altruistic and sure, it takes a few minutes of your time, but you' re help- ing yourself by getting better service and helping the company with your feedback and you helping a good cause," Geng said, adding the pro- gram was such a hit, it will become a yearly tradition. Black Gold sale Acton Horticultural Society mem- bers were very happy to hear that Black Gold compost will be available at their plant sale on Saturday morn- ing. -- they know a good thing, anda good deal, when a aa The pure organic Black Goldcom- post, supplied by Guelph, is being sold by the Acton Agricultural Soci- ety as a fundraiser for its building re- placement fund. Ag. Society spokesperson Janis Fread said they've had lots of great testimonials about the compost that sells for $3 a bag or 4 bags for $10. It will also be sold by the yard with lo- cal delivery and if there's any left it will be for sale at the Acton Trunk Sale next Saturday (May 20.). Writer wants Tanner's hide Dear Mr. Mark Tiller, It boggles my mind that a small high school in Acton, Ontario, with limited resources and less than five hundred students. could produce such a production as I saw last week of Guys and Dolls. I was impressed and entertained by the voices of the singers, their acting and dancing. It boggles my mind that twelve musicians of the caliber we heard were so very able to carry an entire production of this magnitude. It boggles my mind that teen-aged artists could come up with the con- cept for a stage design which turned that little high school stage into New York and Havana. It also boggles my mind that an insignificant newspaper such as the Acton Tanner should find it neces- sary to dump all over these young people and make light of their efforts. I don't know which would be more effective, to have Big Jule pay thema call, or to call on Sister Sarah Brown to ask the Tanner to go and sin no more. The Guys and Dolls at Acton High School are to be applauded again for their efforts. The Tanner needs to be tanned. Sincerely, Joyce Beaton ee SPRING HAS SPRUNG: Flowers iii are brightening up the flowerbeds at the Laura Dietrich Memorial Garden by the Acton Branch of the library. You can bet the Acton Horticultural Society will be busy making additions as the season progresses. - Angela Tyler photo r There has been a lot of concern expressed lately about the inci- dents of vandalism in our town. Last weekend I ran into another problem which, on its own is bad enough, may well be related to the rash of vandals. I'm talking about The Way I See It the number of drunken, obnoxious teen staggering around our streets. with Most of them appear to be under- Mike O'Leary age. I'm tired of their foul ge : and the litter they leave as they troll argumentative." But don't take my around town. Yesterday, the police, the BIA and Constable Riddle's Citizens Consultation Committee (CCC) met to discuss remedies to the vandal- emer also hope they will look petrators. ill loo! at the whole issue of teenage drink- ing = a way to combat the overall em. Some kids, a small minority, seem to be of the opinion that they can do whatever they want. This may come from an in vogue "parenting" (God, I hate that word) theory that ie can't deny a child anything lest you damage their psyche. This "strategy" could well be produc- ing the social misfits stumbling around our streets discarding beer bottles as they go. All my adult life I have made it a practice never to give advice or publicly comment on how others raise their children. word for it. Read the book. I would also remind you that even Dr. Spock changed his opinion on his original theories. Here's the straw that broke this have been angry about the number of kids who pass by our house curs- ing and swearing. NoI'm not foolish enough to think my own kids have never used foul a Truth be told, my own verbal habits when I'm with my friends could use improve- ment. But I don't, and I hope my girls don't, walk down the street sound- ing like cheap trash and disturbing anyone within earshot. Last weekend, a friend I have not seen in some time, invited me over for a few bubblies. Four of us were enjoying the evening, and each oth- ers' company, when I noticed a number of teens walking down the street with open beer cases. One kid had a bottle of C.C. which he was camel's back. For some time now I" encou ch an Enough is enough "Network" - I'm mad as Hell and I'm not going to take it any more. We adults are to blame for this situation. We have ignored it for too long. With summer coming'on we have a choice. We can lock ourselves, and our children, in our houses and hope these punks don't pick on us: or, we om come together as a community and bring some peace back to our neighbour- hoods. This is not a call for vigi- lante action. Actually, it's the op- posite. The results of the meeting between the police, the BIA and the CCC will be published in the paper over the next fe I you to participate, zens, and help our police curb these problems. Law enforcement must be left to the police. Some teens think the Young Offenders Act will shield them. They're wrong. Drinking under age carries a fine of approximately $90. Drunk in a public place - an- other $90. Possession under age - another $90. Walking down the street cursing and swearing is an- other $90. (That's creating a dis- turbance.) So, the hot shot saun- tering down the street, underage, drinking a beer and using loud, foul language, could get dinged for $360. Not much immunity there. Anyone allowing minors to as good citi- There are too many variables. I would like to say, however, to caregivers who think negotiation and making deals constitutes any kind of discipline, Thank you very little. The rest of us have to deal many little brats once they leave the nest. Now that I have cheesed- off more than a few New Age "caregivers" (Mom and Dad isn't good enough any more), let me of- with the churlish behaviour of too _p. drinking me Over the period of drinkat their house could have real an hour or so I'll bet I saw 12 to 15 problems. In addition to the obvi- kids totally plastered. They looked ous charges and fines, if that kid like they were walking an obstacle is hurt or hurts someone else on course. Most of them appeared to be the way home, the homeowner is underage. This was all before 11:30 liable. They could be sued for .m. houses, cottages, cars and cash. When T returned home "The Bride" The works is on the line. Obvi- was on the front porch. Evidently, ously, I'm not talking about giv- there was an altercation involving a ing your kida glass of wine or an group of teens at a neighbour's occasional brew. But in these liti- house. It was so loud, and the lan- gious days I wouldn't give or let guage so foul, "The Bride" was awak- ened from a sound sleep. I can tell you my friends, that means the noise level would have registered on the Richter Scale. One young person, not I must add one of my neighbours, had a mouth so vile as to rival the most rank of Calcutta sewers. This, I sup- pose, makes them feel important. The tragedy is that 10 years from now the kids they think they are impressing won't want to know them. I've seen it happen. What's "cool" as a teen is just embarrassing to most young adults. : When my wife is verbally as- saulted on our own property that is fer some evidence. Behavioural consultant Ronald Morrish, in his book " Secrets of Discipline," says parents and teachers should stop making deals with children about proper deport- ment and start teaching them the tules. "These days everything has become a deal" says Morrish. He observes that in giving children choices and providing rewards and punishments, to encourage them to select well, kids are instead of- fered the chance to opt for antiso- cial behaviour. "Instead of getting kids who are respectful, reasonable and co-operative, you get kids who are manipulative, self-centredand enough. As the man said in the movie someone else's underage kid drink on my property. As always. though, the choice is yours. So are the consequences. I'm not against kids having fun. Most Acton kids are never in- volved in disturbing the neigh- bours with drunken rants. I don't think, though, we should surren- der our streets to the anarchy of the few. If you want a chilling re- minder of what can happen, just think about that poor girl in Victo- ria. I'll bet anything that the good people in B.C. never thought that could happen. But it did and it should be a wake-up call to every i Paeeeiioeeeee it pays!