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

THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2009 6 Distributed to every home in Acton and area, as well as adjoining communities. 373 Queen Street East, Unit 1 Acton, Ontario L7J 2N2 email: thenewtanner@on.aibn.com Mike OLeary Frances Niblock Angela Tyler Rebecca Ring Publisher Editor Ted Tyler Hartley Coles Editorial Contributors Advertising and Circulation Composing Marie Shadbolt Ken Baker Tracey Gardner By Angela Tyler Editorial with Hartley Coles (519) 853-0051 Fax: (519) 853-0052 Every effort will be made to see advertising copy, neatly presented, is correctly printed. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or omissions in advertising, but will gladly reprint without charge that part of an advertisement in which an error may occur provided a claim is made within five days of publication. All articles, advertisements and graphic artwork appearing in The New Tanner is copyrighted. Any usage, reproduction or publication of these items, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher of The New Tanner is a copyright infringement and subject to legal action. Councils decision not to sell or merge Halton Hills Hydro and its subsidiaries is one we applaud vigorously from this corner of the fourth estate. The temptation to sell local hydro to larger companies is real and the Town would realize some short term benefits from its sale. However, as Mayor Rick Bonnette pointed out in his col- umn last week (Dec 30/08), We felt sure the money would be good if we sold it, but what happens in ten years and the money from the sale is gone? The we would be at the mercy of a large, faceless hydro corporation. The decision to sell local utilities or merge with others has been sweeping across the province since the days of Premier Mike Harris. Business case analogies which propose combining assets and achieving economies of scale are supposed to net savings for municipalities, keep hydro rates down and increase dividends to share holders. Its part of the bigger is better syndrome. Unfortunately, when the deal is accomplished its uncertain who is at the rudder steering the ship. Decisions could be based on profits not on local needs and affordability. As the Mayor says Halton Hills Hydro has been reasonable with rate increases and having a company owned by the town enables the municipality to respond quickly to economic development opportunites and other challenges such as energy conservation. It also ensures the decisions lie in local hands and not in the hands of some face- less corporation. More than a few drivers are annoyed by the action s of a few out-of-town motorists who drive at various speeds through Acton on their way home in the evening rush hours. Local drivers often wait for long periods, especially during snow storms and other bad weather to get on the main routes from the side streets and few are given the courtesy of allowing them into bumper-to-bumper traffic. The worst parts of town are on Mill and Main Sts. where the traffic is heaviest. Traffic is partly controlled by the lights at Mill and Main Sts. and also on Churchill Rd. and Tanners Drive on Queen St. but the presence of many businesses along Mill and Queen where theres much in-an-out traffic can snarl things up pretty good. One motorist on St. Albans Drive recently, trying to get on Main N. told The New Tanner he waited until he saw what was a desirable opening. When he tried to accelerate onto Main the ice on the corner made his vehicle slip before taking off north on Main. The oncoming driver gave him the horn because the local driver wasnt out fast enough to suit him. Inconsiderate drivers are everywhere but its double annoy- ing when they drive through towns such as Acton and local residents cant safely use their own streets. It only takes some courtesy to respect the fact there are others on the road who want to get to their home in Town as well as those who have miles to go before they sleep. A few years back, my mom and sister went away for a few days. Although he was left to fend for himself and swore he would be just fine, I still felt compelled to keep an eye on him. The day my mom was to re- turn home, I headed over to their place at lunchtime to tidy up for my mom. I sort of had this feel- ing my dad would have their house okay, but not the way my mom would have had it. I just wanted everything to be looked after when she returned and nothing to worry about. As I made their bed and start- ed tidying up the kitchen my dad came home for lunch. He looked at me in my full Molly Maid mode and asked, What are you doing? He almost sounded mad. I started to explain and he informed me, Well, stop. I was Good decision Some courtesy, please The Dude has a honey-do list shocked. What was he thinking? Then he continued If you tidy up, your mom wont think I was at home. Just leave it alone. His logic didnt exactly make sense at the time. It actually just made me shake my head in won- derment. In retrospect, I have to admit his logic was logical for husbands. After Christmas I was the one to go away for a few days with- out the Dude. I knew well in advance of getting married that he isnt exactly a homebody. Hes the one that goes snow- mobiling or to a friends cottage or away on business while I keep the home fires burning. I dont mind. Home is my com- fort zone. Even though I had been away once or twice without him, this time it felt really odd. I pre- pared to leave him fending for himself for a few days. Packing was not a priority. My priorities were cleaning the house, making sure all the laundry was done, the dogs had food and there was food in the fridge/freezer for him to heat up. He wasnt getting off that easy though. He also had a Dude To Do list. Please dont work too late and forget about the dogs need- ing to go out I begged him. The list continuedinstall kitchen radio, take garbage and recyc- ling out on Wednesdayafter about number five on the list, FLOWING SWIFTLY: The Black Creek lives up to its name as it flows to meet the Credit River at Norval. Swollen by recent rain and melting snow it flows swiftly over the Fourth Line here, through Limehouse and down the Niagara Escarpment. The creek originates from Fairy Lake in Acton and joins other tributaries of the Credit on its way to the river. Continued on Page 7