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THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2007 THE NEW TANNER 7 GRAPEVINE with Mike OLeary The Way I See It The games people play Am I the only one who is be- coming more and more irritated with the constant speculation by the major newspapers and TV as to whether or not were going to have a spring election? Is there no other story the media can dig up that is actually interesting? The Liberals have no credible leader. Prime Minister Harper desperately wants a majority. The Block are terrified after the results of the Quebec provincial election. The NDP are worried they are losing core supporters to the Green Party. Blah, blah, blah. Who cares? Today (Easter Sunday) I have more important things on my mind. My Leafs are out of the playoffs again after an exciting, but sloppy, defeat of Les Cana- diens. Last Saturday night that was especially satisfying. Then we had to watch helplessly while the N.Y. Islanders took the last playoff slot from us in a shoot- out. I am officially in mourning again. The Masters was also played last weekend. For the first time in over 50 years the winning score was over par. Mike Weir, who had an outside chance until he blew his brains out on Saturday, finished well back in the pack as did Stephen Ames. I thought Tiger might take a run at the title but he also ran out of gas on the last three holes. In the end, little known Zack Johnson won the coveted green jacket. The usual formalities followed, complete with banal questions from TV announc- ers, and the last years winner Phil Mickelson trying to look interested as he presented the traditional jacket to Johnson. Johnson somewhat irked me. He attributed his win to Jesus Christ. As a person of faith myself I am pleased he ac- knowledges the importance of spirituality in his life. But I think giving God credit for winning a golf tournament or (fill in favourite sport here) is a bit much. With all the troubles in the world today it seems to me that God would be busy enough with real crisis situations. Not with golf games during which most people who have ever played the game know the occasional curse can es- cape after an especially bad shot. I just wish athletes would keep their religious convictions to them- selves. I mean, all the powers in heaven and on earth couldnt keep my beloved Leafs from coming up short. That proves it. Prayer has no power over sporting events. Or over lotteries for that matter, but thats another story. *** I read where (no more taxes) McGreedy is planning another new tax (quel surprise). This time the target is water bottlers. And guess what, this is all being done to save the environment. Now before some non-Irish green person rushes to defend this new tax on the evil corporate devils, think about who will end up paying for this tax. Consumers will. The evil corporations will include this proposed tax in their cost of goods. Then they will ap- ply the usual mark-up to set the retail price. Now perhaps a few of you wont mind paying more for this recent affectation. It wont bother me since I am content to drink good ol Acton tap water. Acton tap water actually does come from a spring. But if you are determined to pay more for your pleasure wouldnt it make more sense to pay a deposit on your plastic bottles? That seems to be more progressive than yet another inflated tax. A water bottle deposit would rid our countryside of a major cause of litter. Plastic water bottles have replaced the Styro- foam coffee cups of old. I dont understand why so many people think its quite acceptable to drop water bottles all over while con- tinuing to lecture others on the evils of modern society. While were on the subject of taxes and greed, how do you like the price of gas these days? The incredible thing is that some en- vironmentalists are lobbying for even higher prices. The theory is that the higher the price at the pumps the less people will drive. What myopic nonsense. Our country depends on a reliable road network. Those agitating for higher fuel prices either fail to understand, or callously ignore the fact, that almost everything we consume is delivered by truck. If fuel goes up 10% what do you suppose will happen to the price of groceries, clothing, medicines and the other necessities of life? If fuel goes up 20, 30, or 40 percent, as some granola crunch- ers propose, the economy will probably crash. There is no way that wages can keep up with that type of increase without causing raging inflation. Perhaps thats their end game plan after all. They want us all to be forced to revert to being hew- ers of wood and drawers of water. Provided, of course, we can find potable water and get regional approval to cut down a tree. That lifestyle holds no allure to me. Im too old to be a hippie again. Been there, done that, got the t- shirt, forgot the slogans. standard? How technologically advanced is a cord such that it must be replaced with a new model every six months? The proliferation and sheer waste of this type of practice is mind-boggling. Someone has to pay for all those disposable cords, chargers and adapters, to say nothing of the prod- ucts themselves. That someone is all of us. And not just for the product, but also for the pollution created when its made and disposed of right back into the biosphere. Its time for producers to take responsibility for their products entire life cycles and not just pre- tend like they can wash their hands of the problem when it goes out the door. Take the Nature Challenge and learn more at www.davidsuzuki. org. There ought to be a law... CLEAN HANDS: Thanks to the on-going generosity of Actons Superior Glove Works, volunteers, including students, taking part in Earth Day cleanup events including the April 20th 20-Minute Makeover and April 21 community cleanup will wear protective gloves. Superior owner Tony Geng, centre, donated 10 cases of gloves which were picked up Mayor Rick Bonnette and Acton BIA co- ordinator Josey Bonnette last Thursday. Frances Niblock photo MS W alk Its still not too late to support Acton spa owner Yvette Simpson who again is taking part in the Loblaws Super Cities WALK for MS this Sunday. Simpson, owner of Silvercreek Spa, has multiple sclerosis and will be one of the 70,000 people across Canada who will walk 5-k or 10-k routes to raise money for research to find a cure and for services. Simpson is one of 300 people expected at the Milton-Halton Hills WALK at the Milton Leisure Centre, one of 159 WALK sites across Canada. For more details, or to sponsor Simpson, visit www.supercities- walk.com Curves Food Thanks to the 9th annual food drive at Curves, the local food bank shelves will be replenished with approximately 650-pounds of food that was collected at the Acton Curves location last month in a membership incentive program that also benefited FoodShare. Curves waived the normal ser- vice fee for 24 new members who brought in a bag of non-perishable food when they joined. Existing members also donated food during the food drive campaign. Food Drive The annual Acton Scouts Guides/ Calvinist Cadets food drive ben- efiting Actons FoodShare takes place on Saturday and those wish- ing to participate can put items of non-perishable food in a plastic bag at their front door by 8:30 a.m. for pickup. Donations of the following would be really appreciated: canned meat, tuna, stew, vegetables, baked beans, canned fruit, peanut butter, cereal, pasta, dry milk, cookies and crackers. Spring cleanup All it will take to make your part of Halton Hills a little cleaner is 20 minutes worth of work, and the Town hopes that many people make the effort on Friday, April 20. Local schools, businesses and individuals are expected to take part in the Towns third second annual 20-Minute Makeover a blitz of an area to clean up all of the litter and debris. On Saturday, April 21, the Town is holding its seventh annual community-wide cleanup, when special attention will be paid to parks, along road allowances and in other public areas. Acton BIA members are invit- ing people to join them in the Willow Street South parking lot at 9 a.m., on April 21 when the annual downtown Acton cleanup begins. Actons Superior Glove Works has donated 10 cases of gloves for volunteers and garbage bags will be supplied for free. To arrange for gloves, garbage bags, to register your participa- tion and to arrange for pickup of collected waste, call the works department at 905-873-2601 ext. 2610. *** Local Earth Day celebrations continue April 21 at the spring opening of the Willow Park Ecol- ogy Centre in Norval. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., there will be park activities and the start up of the Butterfly Garden. Youth Awards MYAC The Mayors Youth Action Committee is looking for nominations for the fourth annual Halton Hills Youth Recognition Awards. The committee wants to honour highly motivated, spirited and dedi- cated youth who act as role models for other youth. Candidates must be between 13 and 18 years of age. Nomination packages are avail- able at the Town. For details call Lisa at 905-873-2601, ext. 2285. The recognition ceremony takes place May 9, at the Civic Centre. Vendors Wanted Vendors are wanted for the Mom to Mom sale at St. Albans Church on April 28. There is usually a line up of peo- ple waiting to get in to the popular sale that features good quality used baby and childrens toy, games and furniture and great prices. For information, call Susanne at 519-853-0390. Trunk Sale The Acton Trunk Sale Committee is starting to prepare for this years 14th annual event, however, they are in need of volunteer workers to help the Trunk Sale continue for another year. If interested, persons can leave their name and telephone number at the Tanner offices. Continued from page 6