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THE NEW TANNER TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2008 4 Only a Few Spots Left - REGISTER NOW! Cal l for detai ls 519-853-2650 Give yourself, or someone you care about, the gift of Health! GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE! FYOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO JOIN ANY OF OUR PROGRAMS!E 2 Hour Detox Yoga Sunday, January 18, 2009 10:30am to 12:30pm Choreographed Yoga sequences that release accumulated toxins! $20+gs t Gentle Yoga Monday, Jan. 7 7:00pm to 8:00pm A class great for beginners, people with health issues and seniors. Intermediate Yoga Tuesday, Jan 6 7:30pm to 8:30pm. Bellydance Fit Thursday, Jan. 8 7pm to 8pm Beginner Pilates Tuesday, Jan. 6 6:15pm to 7:15pm Lunch-time Intermediate Yoga Tuesday, Jan 6 12noon to 1:00pm NEW 10 WEEK PROGRAMS $100+gs t A 49-year-old Acton man has been charged with refusing to give a breath sample by Wellington OPP after a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix was found in the ditch on Wellington Rd. 44 near the Indian Trail on Tuesday, Dec 23, at about 10:13pm. Police said, when the officer arrived at the scene they found the vehicle in the ditch without damage but the driver had been drinking. He refused to take a Roadside Screening De- vice test. Hes to appear in Guelph Court on Feb. 2, 2009. Refuses to take test Frugal Five You dont have to spend big bucks to have fun in the Acton area many groups offer events for free, or at a price thats easy on the wal- let. 1: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 6:30 p.m. Christian Re- formed Church, Free Beth-el Christian Re- formed Church presents Words of Hope, a reflect- ive service sharing Bible passages that have been particularly meaningful in the lives of some people at Bethel Church. 2: Friday, January 2, 2-3:30 p.m. Acton arena, Free, You can sake for free at the Acton arena, thanks to the Rotary Club of Acton and the Georgetown Optimist Club. Skating is on a first- come, first-admitted basis, subject to rink capacity. 3: Tuesday January 6, 2009, 9 to 10 a.m., Acton Indoor Pool, Free Swim off some of that Christmas feast with a free swim, sponsored by Purity Life. 4: Sir Donald Mann Park, When there is snow, Free The various hills are fast for the skilled and there are some gentle slopes for beginners, but the park of- fers great tobogganing and boarding, Located off Mow- bray Place. 5: Thursday, Jan. 1, 11 a.m., Free Walk off some of that holiday cheer with a 1.6-kilo- metre hike of the Bruce Trail. Departs from the east side of the Georgetown Market Pace, between Zellers and the medical building. Bring water and a snack. Actons first Citizen of the Year is in spotlight on 50th anniversary Coles Slaw with Hartley Coles It seems like only yesterday to this scribbler. But it was 50 years ago that George Arlof Dills was names Actons first Citizen of the Year, an email from former Acton Free Press reporter Denis Gibbons reminded me this week. Denis is a constant visitor on the internet and if he finds some- thing there about his old home town he dispatches it here. This is from the Canadian Community Newspaper Assn (CCNA) Arlof Dills as he was known was the publisher and editor of the Ac- ton Free Press from 1927 and editor of The Milton Canadian Champion in 1943 after a lifetime in the print- ing trade. He started his printing apprenticeship in Acton in 1909 for the princely sum of $1.50 a week, worked in Toronto, Guelph, and Kingston before going to New York State to learn the operations of the linotype machine, then the machine which did away with setting type from drawers. Mr. Dills returned to Acton in 1919 as a partner with H.P. Moore in the operation of the Acton Free Press and the commercial printing. In 1927 he became sole owner of the newspaper and purchased the Milton paper in 1943. His interests went far beyond local newspapers and printing. A founding member of the Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association (CWNA formed 1919 he held several offices in the asso- ciation. He was a charter member of the Ontario Weekly Newspaper As- sociation (OWNA) and was named Weekly Newspaperman of the Year at their 1958 annual meeting. That year 1958 was a pivotal year for Mr. Dills. It was then he was se- lected as Actons first Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce based on his record of community service which included authorship and publisher of the book Actons Early Days along with former part- ner H.P. Moore. He also played with Acton Citizens Band, was a director and president of the Acton Fall Fair. He was on the library board, public school board, chairman and member of the first district high school board and was first president of the Acton YMCA board. As editor of The Free Press he reported town council news for 25 years. During WW2 he played an important roe in Victory Loan cam- paigns and a Mosquito bomber was named after Acton as a result of a successful promotional campaign he developed. In later years he was in the advisory committee of Ryerson Institute of Technology, now Ryer- son University. When Arlof Dill took over owner- ship of The Acton Free Press it had a staff of four. When forced by illness to discontinue active participation in 1958 it had grown to 35. Sons David and Jim and their families took over the papers and plant and his interest in the two newspaper associations. This scribbler owes a lot to Mr. Dills, a man who played a large part in my life and years in the newspaper and printing business. He hired me as a printers devil in 1943 fresh out of high school, taught me the printing trade including operations of the linotype of which he was a master, and encouraged me in a writ- ing career, that has been going on since. Not many people in any small On- tario town could match the record of community service Mr. Dills gave to Acton. Although it is 50 years since he was named Actons first Citizen of the year, his memory is still very much alive with this writer who still tries to keep the principles and atten- tion to detail he instilled in me.