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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, JANUARY 29 , 2009 7 GRAPEVINE with Mike OLeary The Way I See It One final observation on the recent presidential inaug- uration. There was a gaggle of dignitaries present for the cere- mony. It looked like it was very cold that day in Washington. Amongst the gathering of spear carriers present was former V.P. and presidential candidate Al Gore, he of the global warm- ing movie. When he was introduced I understood when all the Muslims in the crowd started throwing their boots at him. I didnt think he could dodge that well especially since mere months before he was mistaken for a blimp while participating in the New York Thanksgiving Day parade. I did think the se- cret service agents went a bit far when they joined in the footwear melee. **** By the time you read this the federal budget will be passed. I say it will pass because I cant imagine the liberals not sup- porting the budget, not unless they have a death wish that is. Michael Ignatieff will do some sabre rattling but in the end run the money the government is planning to spend has to get to the people as soon as pos- sible. The N.D.P. is going to vote against the budget which comes as no surprise. Jack Lay- ton is still whining about his coalition being all but ignored. Poor Jack, his dreams of finally making it to cabinet have dis- appeared before his very eyes. The only thing scarier than Layton in cabinet is the spectre of Bob Rae as possible finance minister. All the hand wringing by pundits and opposition mem- bers over the projected federal deficit makes me laugh. Where Rink ready Much to the delight of Acton area skaters and shinny fans, the Towns outdoor ice rink behind McKenzie-Smith Bennett School is now open. Hard work by Town staff who tamped down the base and then carefully sprayed the surface, combined with freezing temper- atures have created a smooth rink that will be open as long as Moth- er Nature co-operates. The Town also has two out- door rinks in the Georgetown fairgrounds, and two rinks in Georgetown that are maintained by volunteers with some initial assistance from the Town. Vol- unteers no longer maintain an outdoor rink at Actons Sir Don- ald Mann Park. Its not cheap to run the Towns three out-door rinks the budget last year was $23,000 with labour costs accounting for most of the tab. Town staff report that the rinks are well used they are designed for pleasure skating but not regu- lated so the hockey players and skaters work out their territories. New massage therapy Renovations are underway at the former Willow Lane health food store that will soon house Body Movement Therapeutic a new massage business be- ing started by massage therapist Kasia Sitarz. Sitarz, currently working out of X Marks the Fitness Spot on Main Street, hopes to open at her new location within months, once ma- jor renovations are complete. I always knew that I would open my own place and now its going to happen, Sitarz said, adding her new business may also include a nutritionist and sports therapist. Most of my clients want mas- sage therapy and a lot of the work is sports related rehabilitation. I do a lot of relaxation work, person- al training, deep tissue massage and I also work with pregnant women, Sitarz said, adding the Willow Street location will be perfect once all of the work is complete. Blood Donor Clinics Families are being encouraged to donate together at blood donor clinics around the Family Day holiday. Donors are especially needed this month as platelets; a blood component needed by can- cer patients have a short shelf life of only five days. Four donors are needed to make just one unit of platelets. The next Acton blood clinic is in Acton at the Legion hall on Thursday, Feb. 12 from 2pm to 7:30pm. If you cant make the Acton clin- ic theres one in Georgetown at Maple Ave. Baptist Church, 177 Maple Ave, on Monday, Feb. 9 from 2-8pm. Soccer Starts There may be lots of snow on the ground but the Advanced Soccer Skills Sessions by the Ac- ton Soccer Club are starting this month at Acton High School. In- door practices and evaluation run from Jan. 30 through to April 3 for two age groups. Boys U12 and Girls U15. If you register by Jan 31 theres a 20% off the regular season. See the advertisement on the sports pages for particulars. Newfie Ball Dont forget the Newfie Ball on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Legion. The ball is a fundraiser for the Support the Troops fund. A live band, Eastern Storm, is playing down-east music and theres a DJ for intermissions. Dancing is from 8pm 1am. Tickets can be purchased at the bar in the Le- gion. Heart health The next Living Healthy seminar entitled Get Smart: Look After Your Heart Healthy Hearts Start with Nutrition and Physical Activity, will have Samantha Thiessen, Registered Dietitian and Helen Schelfhaut, Physiotherapist, Halton Health- care Services speaking. It takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7pm at the Milton District Hos- pital, in the Classroom, 30 Derry Road East, Milton, L9T 2X5. Tutors needed Volunteer tutors are still need- ed for Adult Literacy courses in North Halton. Training is provid- ed. Call Literacy North Halton 905-873-2200 for more informa- tion. Business of Month Yorkshire Enterprises at Guelph St. in Georgetown is the Chamber of Commerces January Business of the Month. This, that and somethin else were all these frugal commenta- tors when Prime Ministers from Trudeaus to Chretiens first term were piling deficit upon deficit? And those were during the good times in this country, not when we were facing the economic meltdown we are now. The whole bunch of them make me gag. Youd think they would set aside their petty polit- ical posturing and work together to solve our current problems. But that seems to be too much to expect. **** President Obama has, as ex- pected, signed an order closing Guantanamo prison within a year. There is some concern stateside that the prisoners there might make their way into the States and would be a security risk once there. Canadians have their own potential problem in the person of Omar Khadr. Khadr is accused of throw- ing a grenade which killed an American Medic. Whether tried by a military tribunal or in an American court makes little dif- ference to me. Khadr must face American justice for the crime he is accused of. My fear is that the Harper government will fold and re- patriate him. The Khadr family is infamous for their derision of western society in general, and Canada in particular, and yet they continue to live here. One reason may well be because Khadrs brother has access to free medical care here, medical care not available in Afghan- istan or Pakistan. Seems that while our political freedoms are slammed our free medical care is desirable. And no, I dont feel any em- pathy for Omar Khadr because he was only 15 when the al- leged incident occurred. Young people are aware of right and wrong long before the age of 15. I suggest that Khadr be re- turned to the scene of the crime. A few weeks in an Afghani prison would make Guantanamo seem like a re- sort. **** The war between Hamas and Israel is currently on hold. On the one hand its hard to blame Israel when the terrorists have been firing rockets at them for years. On the other hand the substantial loss of life and de- struction in Gaza is difficult for anyone to justify. Will Hamas use the cease- fire to re-arm? Probably. Will Israel continue to blockade Gaza? Probably. Is there a peaceful way to resolve this impasse? Probably not. Not until both sides tire of war and elect/appoint leaders whose motives are peaceful instead of constantly fuelling hatred and mistrust. President Obama may be dragged into this conumdrum. While that may appear to be an opportunity to practise his statesmanship, it may also be a trap from which there is no escape. The President needs to address his domestic situa- tion before venturing into the shark filled waters of foreign affairs. He doesnt want to get his posterior bitten in his first 100 days. Better to let Hilary sac- rifice hers. 9,000 homes weekly. Much of the growth has been due to the support of the community which includes a good slice of Halton Hills, rural Milton, Rockwood, Eden Mills, Limehouse and large rural areas in Erin. Without that support whatever success has been achieved would not be possible. It would remiss indeed if the publisher and staff did not now express appreciation for the support and encouragement of the last eleven years. We hope to merit the same trust and acceptance over the years to come. Our twelfth year.... Continued from Page 6 ICE HOUSE: The winter has been cold and dim, but those few sunny days with slightly warmer temperatures have created a bevy of icicle laden houses in the area, like this one on Main St. N. which has a growing ice wall flowing down its roof. - Marie Shadbolt photo