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THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010 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 By Angela Tyler Editorial with Frances Niblock (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. Publisher Ted Tyler Editor Frances Niblock Editorial Contributors Mike OLeary Angela Tyler Denise Paulsen Advertising and Circulation Marie Shadbolt Composing Ken Baker Scaring people doesnt make for good public policy but maybe shaming them would stop one costly and ugly prob- lem the illegal dumping of garbage, used furniture and other unwanted items along local roadsides, in parks and other public and private places. This past weekend during the annual Town-wide clean up, several local politicians pulled a huge mound of garbage and debris including a bicycle, TV and open bags of garbage from the area near the Wallace Street Park. When he found a hydro bill with a Rockwood address in the garbage, Acton/Regional Councillor Clark Somerville said his first thought was to drive to Rockwood and dump the bags onto the front lawn of the illegal dumper. Calmer heads prevailed, Somerville said and he did not follow through with his first instinct. But, maybe thats what it will take to stop people from dumping indiscriminately. Maybe if someone was publicly shamed by having their garbage returned to them, it would make others think twice about dumping illegally. Maybe a stiff fine would be more of a deterrent than appeals to treat the environment kindly and responsibly. Thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who spent part of Saturday and will again take part in the 22-minute make- over today (Thursday) for their willingness to clean up after others, but their time and talents could be better used elsewhere. Appealing to the environmental sensibilities of illegal dump- ers is not working the tonnes of waste and truck loads of debris picked up on Saturday evidence that then maybe a warning that waste will be traced back to its owner where pos- sible, followed by public action to do just that, would help. The Shame Game Looking Back 10 Years Ago Town owned land where the Truck Sale is held on summer Saturdays could be sold to help make up a $2.1-million cost overrun for the Georgetown South leisure centre. Actons first Community Champion Gail Thompson of Tim Hortons was the inaugural recipient of the award designed to honour people who make Ac- ton a nicer place to live. Wearing protest buttons and armed with a 2,650-name petition, a bus full of Acton resi- dents went to the Halton Board of Education offices to try to stop the proposed sale of sur- plus land at McKenzie-Smith Bennett School Five years ago Actons water related de- velopment f reeze thawed slightly as Town staff tweaked the numbers and came up with enough water for the equivalent of 54 single family homes, and water for a new Acton medical centre. Acton residents opened their cupboards and wallets during Saturdays annual Scout/Guide/ Cadet food drive for FoodShare, donating 5,591-pounds of food and $218. Robert Little teacher Marie Burland, with help from sev- eral students and members of the Acton Seniors Fit and Fun Group, launched the Everybody Move! Daily Vigorous Activity DVD/CD and resource book at a school assembly to encourage daily exercise and an active life- style. The elephant in the room... Before we knew Little J was a girl, the Dude and I would have chats here and there wondering what she would be. We decided, or should I say I decided, that we would find out what she was when she arrived. Even though all we wanted was a healthy baby, like most moms I probably deep down wanted a girl and like most dads, Im sure the Dude, at the time, was hoping for a little Dude of his own. I can remember him saying to me one night I think I would just have more to do with a boy However, as soon as she ar- rived, Little J captured the Dudes heart hook line and sinker. When she sees her dad or hears his voice she lights up. They have a special bond as he held her even before I did. Over the months, the Dude glows with being a dad. Yet, as a dad with a little baby girl, the Dude is having some large chan- ges in his life. He still is coming to grips with the whole baby girl wardrobe thing. When Little J and I are picking out her days outfit, his theory is a sleeper. She cant live her life in pyjamas, I tell him as we co-ordinate from the shoes and socks right up to her collection of hats. Call me crazy, but I swear she loves her hats. Then there is what used to be our living room. Now when you look at our living room, which when we moved in the Dude wanted to keep it television free and be more of a proper living room for when we have company, has an array of baby gear lined up along the front window. I like to think of it as the fleet. Does she really need another chair? he asked after my last purchase for her. Its not a chair, I cor- rected him. Its an exer-saucer! He grumbled for a bit until he saw how happy she was with her newest acquisition. This past Saturday, the Dude headed out for an auction. He loves going to auctions and this one was for him. He had been wanting a pinball machine for the basement, a.k.a. man-dom since we moved in, and this was an auction with all sorts of games and machines. That af ternoon we were supposed to go out for some gro- ceries when he called informing us he was running late. When I asked why, he said he had to come back to town to get a truck for his purchases. Note the plural form of the word purchase. When he came home, he had his prized pinball machine, however, there were a few more things in the truck. Apparently his little girl needed more activity than her exer-saucer provides. As he lifted the door to the truck inside there was an ele- phant, a turtle and her own ferriswheel. Luckily the men- agerie wasnt real. Instead the Dude had bought his little girl some kiddie rides that you see at shopping malls. And he thought he would have more fun with a boy. I think the turtle should go in her room, he told me proudly. Better the turtle than the ele- phant but if we put the turtle in her room, there wont be any room for her crib, I told him. The turtle is pretty big but the elephant is like an elephant should beenormous. Yes, I think Little J has daddy, as they say, wrapped around her little finger and I am pretty sure she is the only five month old kid in the area with her own amuse- ment park. CD LAUNCH: Artists whose work is featured on a new CD titled Songs for Supper a fundraiser for Actons FoodShare food bank gathered on stage for a finale at Roxy Coffee on Saturday when the CD was launched. Frances Niblock photo