The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Your Hometown Newspaper Volume 10 No. 52 Thursday, December 27, 2007 THE NEW Newstand Price 40 + GST WHATS INSIDE ???????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Rent-A-Car Daily Weekly Monthly 856-0000 286 Alma Street, Rockwood ILLAGE 387 Queen St. East, Acton 336 Guelph St. Georgetown 905-877-0149 Georgetown Chrysler Dodge Jeep georgetownchrylser.com HAPPY NEW YEAR! Activan service during holiday Region tax only up by 1.3% But waste water bill up 6.5% Halton Region taxpayers face a combined property tax increase of 1.3 per cent in 2008 which translates into $16.54 hike for a typi- cal Halton home assessed at $300,000. Regional Council approved the budget and business plan at its meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 19. The budget includes a 5.3 per cent increase for police services and a property tax reduction of 0.6 per cent for regional programs and services. A typical Halton household with a current value assess- ment (cva) of $300,000, the property tax impact reduces Regional services by $5.00 with an increase of $21.54 for police services, a combined increase of $16.54, or $5.52 per $100,000 of cva. Although the Halton budget increased by only 1.3 per- cent, water and waste water services require an increase of 6.5 per cent. A typical households annual combined water and waste water bill will increase by about $43.98 assuming water consumption of 200 mz/year. The Region says the increase reflects growth pressures, legislative compliance and business en- hancements. The 2008 Budget addresses infrastructure and service re- quirements outlined in the Fairness for Halton campaign and the priorities in Halton Regions 2007-2010 Strategic Continued on Page 3 ALL LIT UP: Home aglow with lights in The New Tanners circulation area such as this one on Turtle Lake Drive have been delighting the Christmas light tours. Most of them will till be burning over the New YEar so its not too late for alight tour. - Tracey Gardner photo Looking back at 2007 January Plans begin for a new medical cen- tre and improvements to the old one in Acton, making the town more attractive to family practitioners. The Acton Peewee Tanners took the Silver Stick championship with 4 victories in Midland. Haltons independent Member of Parliament, Garth Turner was named the Top Performing MP by the Ottawa-based organization, Politics Watch. A revised proposal for adult town- house condominiums in Acton was being processed by the Town, for 23 individu- allyowned units on Dr. Moore Court. Halton housing offi cials issued a pro- posal call to build 120 units of affordable housing in the Region for seniors and young people. February Council approves $50-$98 tax increase for 2007, a 5.4% increase for a property assessed at $300,000. Mae Hoare, a native Actonian celebrated her 90th birthday on Feb. 14, 2007. Brent Marshall was named the new Town Fire Chief, who joined The Halton Hills Activan will take bookings each day during the Christmas holiday season this year, the fi rst time it has offered the service since its inception in 1981. The Program provides public transportation for people with disabilities, and seniors, for a regular fare of $2.00 in each direction. The Towns Accessibility Advisory Committee quite rightly brought to our attention the fact that the holiday season is a time for sharing with friends and family, but with a hiatus on ActiVan operations between Christmas and New Years many disabled persons and seniors in the community were unable to use the means of transportation they have come to rely on the rest of the year, said Moya Johnson, Ward 3 Councillor and Chair of the Accessibility Committee. Transit Coordination Don Clarkson says, Weve made arrangements with an outside contractor to provide service each day between December 25 and January 1, including the statutory holidays of Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. Our ActiVan booking line will remain open during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) Continued on Page 3 Continued on Page 4 Acton Citizens Band never gets enough recognition for its participation in events. See editorial Page 6 Eden Mills jazz artist re- leased his eighth album recently. Our reporter Re- becca Rign interviews him on Page 10 MacKenzie Smith Bennett PS Primary and Junior Choir performed recently. See pic on Page 3