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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010 7 GRAPEVINE with Mike OLeary The Way I See It X-Ray staying A widespread rumour about the future of Actons x- ray and ultrasound clinic has been quashed by Peri Peters, manager of Ontario Medical Imaging, the company that has operated at the Acton Medical Centre for approxi- mately 15 years. We are not planning to move. We have no plans to close, Peri stressed on Tuesday, adding nothing will change at the clinic, despite the imminent opening of the new Acton Medical and Ur- gent Care Clinic. Canvassers wanted Do you have a few hours to spare in April to canvass a residential street for Cancer Assistance Services of Hal- ton Hills (CAShh)? CAShh has provided ser- vices for cancer patients for 10 years and a dramatic in- crease in demand for services means a successful door-to- door campaign is even more important. For more infor- mation call 905-702-8886. Ski kudos Congrats to Isaac Dale- man of Acton, whose strong performance at the recent Ontario Special Olympics, Region 5 alpine skiing prov- incial qualifiers at Glen Eden Ski and Snowboard Centre put him in conten- tion for selection to compete in the 2011 Ontario Special Olympics Winter Games in Thunder Bay. Daleman and his brother Austin, 8, are both autistic and ski with the Milton Snow- blazers Special Olympics Alpine Ski Team. Dance party Proceeds from another popular Video Dance Party at the Town Hall Centre on Friday (March 5) will help pay for some the on-going renovations at the Willow Street building. Party Cinemas fun includes big screens, big sound and a big light show as well as a snack bar, contests with priz- es - all chaperoned by adults and aimed at kids seven to 14. Doors open from 7 to 10 p.m. and tickets are available at the door or online at www. videodanceparty.ca. *** Members of the group that is lovingly restoring the Town Hall Centre hope to be ready for a grand re- opening ceremony in April. Plans for the celebration are developing as crews com- plete as much of the rehab work as they can afford with a mortgage they took out to complete the work and re- store the facility. At the opening, members of the Acton Town Hall Play- ers dinner theatre group will portray some of Actons early and colourful citizens from the time when the building was the centre of social life in Acton. Affordable housing With a no-interest mort- gage, Habitat for Humanity Halton wants to make home ownership a reality for a family who would move into Habitats three-bedroom house on Crescent Street. It is inviting people with three or four children to come to a public information meet- ing to fill out an application on Wednesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. Solar tour The solar panel installa- tion at a Crewsons Corners residence is one of two lo- cal stops on a solar tour on Sunday, hosted by the Hal- ton Residential Solar Project. At the two locations, home- owners and vendors will be on hand to discuss solar technol- ogy, financial strategies and incentives associated with installing solar systems. For more information visit halton.ourpower.ca or call 905-299-2327. Cancer kickoff Acton Canadian Cancer Society volunteers canvass- ers, drivers, knitters, daffodil salespeople and all others are invited to the March 24 kickoff dinner for the annual Acton campaign for funds. The volunteer appreciation dinner begins at 6 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church, and includes door prizes and entertainment. Anyone will- ing to volunteer during Aprils campaign can call Cathy Ger- row at 519-853-1425. Safety suggestions Personal safety is on the agenda next Wednesday at the meeting of the Silver-Wood Womens Institute when a representative of Halton po- lice offers a presentation on How to Keep Yourself Safe. All are welcome to the meeting that begins at 7 p.m. at Limehouse Memorial Hall. For more information call Shirley at 519-853-2604. Youth dance Youths in Grades six, sev- en and eight are invited to a dance at the Acton Commun- ity Centre run by the Towns recreation and parks depart- ment on Friday, March 12. The adult-chaperoned event runs from 7:30 to 10 p.m. With apologies to Lawrence Thayer; The outlook wasnt brilliant, For the Canadian Six that day. The Yankees had tied the game, With scant seconds left to play. Millions of true north hearts, Skipped a beat as they scrambled to pee. The Olympic gold medal hockey game, Was headed to O. T. As 30-million Canuks wondered, If it was time to try to pray, Which one of our stalwart lads, Would rise to save the day? The action was furious as end to end, They dashed beyond belief. Until Sid the Kid slid one past Miller, And the whole country breathed a sigh of relief. Yes Canada, we won the Olym- pics! I know that the Americans and Germans won more medals, but we won the hockey game. Our national pride is salvaged from the Turin train wreck. If everyone else would just real- ize that the Winter Olympics is all about hockey there would be worldwide peace. I dont know about you but Im emotionally exhausted after the last two weeks. Im relieved the Olympics are over, my heart wouldnt take another week of that. When I realized I was madly cheering the home side at the gold medal curling match, I knew someone would have to come and do an intervention. I know Ive said it before, but arent you proud of all our Can- adian athletes? They truly are role models for our younger gen- eration. Thats something Ive been aware of over the years. Competitors, whether in sports, academics, the arts, whatever, are role models we should be pointing out to our children. We are fortunate to have so many in our town. Just tune into a Mu- nicipal Awards ceremony as a starting point. Did you notice the vast majority of athletes who sang the anthem when they had the chance? Even the mens hockey team joined in. The result is our national anthem has gained worldwide exposure, thanks to our athletes gold med- al performance, notwithstanding the bastardized version that was performed at the opening cere- monies. The closing performance showed a side of this country that I think the world needed to see. From the beginning, when we poked fun at the non-func- tioning torch arm, through the stereotypical Mounties, beavers, lumberjacks and so on, this was a message the world needed to see. No more will we be perceived as nice but dull. The beautiful City of Vancouver showed that we dont all live in Igloos. I couldnt believe the number of visitors I saw on TV who were concerned that Beaver Tails were actually made with beaver tails. We wont tell them whats in seal flipper pie. We dont have to share all our culinary delights with the world. I trust all those who com- plained that VANOC boss John Furlong didnt speak enough French at the opening ceremon- ies. At the closing ceremonies he spoke a second language. Not sure what it was but it sure wasnt French. Im sure the poor man knew he was butchering the language but had no option other than soldier on. While I realize this is a bi-lingual coun- try, I dont think embarrassing this poor man in his moment of triumph was worth the nod to political correctness. I knew I was getting old when I couldnt recognize any of the popular songs played at the closing ceremony. At least I had heard of some/most of the artists but much of the music(?) left me less than cold. The fell- ing stayed with me until the next day when my youngest daugh- ter called to complain about the music too. I felt somewhat ex- onerated. I hate to sound like an old fogey but did everything have to be hard rock/rap/whatever? Obviously Im not counting Neil Young in the above. While Im at it I would like to dispel the rumour that Ste- ven Harper had demanded Neil be in the show. There is also no truth to the rumour that Young also planned to sing I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends. Not True! I think these Olympics will have a lasting positive effect on our country. I see a lot more overt national pride than Ive seen in the past. I welcome the change, its about time. The Olympics have, the way I see it, changed the way many of us look at ourselves as a coun- try. Young people especially no longer consider themselves to be hyphenated Canadians. This bodes well for our future. In the past Ive always felt a letdown when the Olympics were over, especially the Win- ter Olympics. This week, I feel like I have an Olympic hang- over. Anyone know of a cure, the next Olympics are four long years away. NO, not beer, uh-huh! Olympic Au Revoir CHEFS SURPRISE: Members of the First Acton Scouting Group Cubs, Beavers and Scouts cooked up a storm on Sunday morning at the Acton arena for the Kinettes monthly Com- munity Brunch. Group leaders Anthony Galati (left), Mike Byers (right), with his son Kenneth, 10, helped serve at the popular event. Denise Paulsen photo