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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2005 THE NEW TANNER 19 Smart meters good idea? To the editor, I think that smart meters for the hydro is absolutely brilliant -- if I understand them correctly. The idea is to charge more for the use of hydro during peak periods -- and encourage people to use hydro off peak. The cost is only $300 per household. So I suppose the brilliant people will expect workers to come home from work, start cooking dinner at something like 7p.m., and eat at around 9-10p.m. Also when leaving in the morning, instead of cooking breakfast at around 7 you will start at say 6a.m. instead. Yeah, right! Anyone see anything nuts about this? Well 1 suppose now the peak hours will shift ~so problem not solved. Of course the concept of work- ing in the daytime could be changed -- let's all work at night -- or will this cause us to go back to square one? What we REALLY need is-a free market -- just like, as an example, gasoline. They seem to have the abil- ity to supply as needed. It's only when government gets involved everything gets messed up. What we really need is smart meters on McFlinties government -- make them productive for the taxpayers --not themselves. However, I suspect that is-a figment of my imagination. A bit like smart hydro meters. John Shadbolt. Acton NSEN, «d Yo, % ver Y Recreation Centre ACTON SENIORS' RECREATION CENTRE By Junie Conroy . Welcome home to all the snowbirds who flew away to escape our snowy winter this year. Those of us who stayed had a very busy winter with all the events going on at our Centre. I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter with friends and families. Spring can't be too far away. Now the days are longer and you can feel the warmth in the sun. One sure sign of spring are the snowdrops that braved the cool weather, and are now in flower in a sheltered spot in my garden. I always enjoy seeing them this time of the year. The New newsletters are ~ready for pick up. Like last time-they are filed alphabeti- cally by street address, then your name. If yowsee neigh- bours and you know they are unable to pick theirs up, please take theirs for them. The next trip to Casino Rama is Wednesday, April 27. Now the weather is improv- ing, I am sure lots of people will be interested in the trip. Sign up if you wish to go. There was only one Moon- er, Muriel Dzierla, at the Bid Euchre last week. Friday is the first Friday in the month so lunch will be Pot Luck. If you don't wish to bring-a "dish" don't worry you can pay $6 instead, and enjoy the companionship and a great selection of dishes. There will be a sing-a-long for an hour before lunch, and everyone enjoys that, whether singing or listening. You might like to try your hand at shuffleboard which is also on Friday mornings, starting at 10:15a.m. You would be finished in time for lunch. Please note there is No Shuffleboard on April 8. Eileen Dix tells me the Income Tax Clinic was well attended and the two Revenue Canada trained volunteers processed 18 income tax returns. A single Senior with an income up to $20,000 or couples with income up to $25,000 are eligible for this free service. The next clinic will be Tuesday, April 5. If you would like to take ad- vantage of the confidential service please call Eileen at 853-0493. Tickets are now available for the April Showers Din- ner being held on Thursday, April 14 at 6p.m. Dinner will be ham, scalloped potatoes and vegetables, plus either apple crumble, or lemon pie. Margaret Dodgson tells me she has great entertainment planned for after. Don't be disappointed. Plan on getting your ticket early, as the din- ners are always sold out All our members celebrat- ing their birthdays in April are invited to bring a friend and enjoy the Birthday Tea on Tuesday, April 12 at 2p.m. If you are looking for a useful hostess gift, or shower gift, we have "Recipes col- lected from our Kitchens," a collection of favorite recipes from our own Acton Seniors at the low cost of $6. The book covers everything from soup to nuts, and everything in between. I know people are thinking about the warmer weather when I see a list of people interested in playing horseshoes. If you enjoy play- ing this game sign up, and someone will contact you. There is still space for any- one wishing to see the Simcoe Lions Club 54" Annual Vari- ety Show on Thursday April 28. The price is $70 and includes transportation and buffet dinner at "The Blue El- ephant," with time to shop at the Farmers Market. Another trip that is always exciting is in June and is a | % hour cruise on Lake Simcoe with a hot and cold buffet lunch and a show "Ivana Takes a Gamble." This costs $74 and, of course, includes ev- erything. Many people will have fond memories of "Trish Woloshyn" who made a lot of people happy with her cheerful voice, while making calls on behalf of the Acton Seniors Centre. She will be missed. The Acton Seniors Centre of- fer our condolences to her family. The draw for the 50/50 was made on Thursday last week, due to the Eas- ter holidays, but sad to say there was no winner. Halton gets funding for prenatal program Health Canada has ex- tended its funding for the Canadian Prenatal Nutri- tion Program (CPNP) in Halton. The CPNP will re- ceive $90,194 a year from April 1, 2005 to March 31, +2007, money to support local organizations that work with pregnant women at risk for delivering low birth weight babies., The funding from Health Canada will provide ad- ditional staff to recruit and counsel at-risk women in Halton. It will also support additional group sessions at the established sites in Burlington (Ontario Early _ Years Centre) and Oakville (Salvation Army). Once staffing is in place, sites will be opened in north Halton, alternating between the Ontario Early Years Cen- tre in Milton and Georgetown in Halton Hills. The goals of the CPNP are to improve the health of pregnant women; decrease the number of babies born with a low birth weight; in- crease the number of mothers who breastfeed; and create linkages between pregnant women and existing com- munity resources. Women participating in the CPNP have access to the following supports: One-to-one nutrition counselling by a registered Dietitian; Health education resources; Nutrition educa- tion and the development of skill related to food and nutrition in an interactive, informal environment; public transportation tickets; infor- mal childcare; food vouchers; a cookbook and referral to other community services. For more information about the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program in Halton, contact the Halton Region Health Department at 905-825-6000, toll free: 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866). TTY: 905- 827-9833, or visit the website at www.region.halton.on.ca. i At aa O'Leary makes good point but church attendance down To the editor, I am a Christian and a member of the Bethel church in Acton so it was with great interest that I read Mike O'Leary's column in last week's Tanner entitled 'In the name of the Father'. Any time I see an article or story with a title like that, it tweaks my interest. It seems the main thrust of his col- umn was the silence of the Christian community in the political arena. He makes a very valid point and it is almost embarrassing how uninvolved we are. How- ever, what really got my attention and was thought provoking for me was the 80% of Canadians who rec- ognize there is a God. If 80% believe in a God, I would think it is fair to say that a majority of them believe in the bible and the message it contains. If that is the case, then my sur- prise is not so much their lack of involvement in the political arena, but rather at their lack of involvement in organized religion, or church attendance. As I sit here reflecting back on this past weekend's inspir- ing and meaningful Easter church services, I can't help but wonder that if people believe in the Easter story, that Christ died a horrific death on the cross so that we could spend eternity in heaven, how can they ignore that and go on living life in the fast lane? I've heard it said often enough that people feel they are not 'good enough' to go to church. In Matthew 9:12 Jesus says 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.' Churches are hospitals for sinners, not rest homes for saints. We are all sinners and it is only through a personal relationship with Christ and through His for- giveness of our sins that we will enter heaven. I am not at all saying that church attendance will save you, but rather that being part of a church family can foster and nurture a relasion- ship with Christ. I agree with Mr. O'Leary when he suggests we put our core beliefs into political action, but I feel it is much more important that we put our core beliefs into personal action. So if you thought you would feel intimidated, or if you feel you're not good enough to attend church, try it, I think you'll like it. Nick Kuipery. Unattended cooking is the number A eee iis ices Pay close attention Ue eee ALT) and stay in the kitchen. Relax this summer on our PATIO Furniture Furniture Hut Indoor, Outdoor Furniture 136 Guelph St. Georgetown 905-873-9791 _-