WHdy Much TELEPHONE and atonal Founded in 1S75 Ken Bellamy Don Ryder Publisher Director Advertising Hartley Coles Managing Editor EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT EdtMrrGantMMnv Mm Monty Robn Paul CMrt Lid 17J Trlaphooa Sngla par in Cm In Own Canada The Community The Allocator SacomJ mail rcgautuon Tha Acioo Fim Pint a of and Lid group which Th Pickering Advartaoi Aurora Entarpnaa Brampton Guardian Tho Paw Burlngion Post Tha Tha MarUiamThomhal Economic and Sun Tha Mttott Tha Nam The and Sun Tha Champion The Nam Tha Era Tha North York Mirror OakviDa Friday Bvr Oihawa Wart 0howa Richmond HaThomhil Tha Scarborough The Tribune Tha DEPARTMENT AdvanMng MWfiR Kirk Davy Susan Carolyn BUSINESSACCOUNTING OFFICE Manage McGBttway A ward deserved Just a few weeks ago we praised the volunteer fire fighters as well as their employers for their great efforts in the Thompson Fuels fire Only in cases of major fires do we really see the expertise resulting from hours of training and prac tice by the firefighters Also only when there is a big fire during working hours which keeps the volunteers off their regular jobs for several hours do we appreciate the sacrifice for the community made by employers Recently our volunteers were honored for their ef forts in another not as well publicized area rescue and resuscitation calls The HaJton Safety Council became aware of our fire fighters devotion to the community in terms of rescue calls through a nomination for a safety award prompted by a local resident after reading an article in this newspaper last year about the fire fighters saving the life of baby Andrew Coe But this was just one ex ample of the life saving ef forts the volunteers per form in this community on a regular basis Certainly many citizens are aware that in cases of children or adults being pulled from rivers lakes and ponds the firefighters are called to perform resuscitation duties They are the first emergency service on the scene except possibly the police on some occasions Its interesting to note that even in cases of tragedy a drowning expert witnesses such as ambulance atten dants doctors on the scene police officers etc all testify at subsequent cor oners inquests in glowing terms about the efforts of the firefighters They cant always save a life but they certainly have the expertise to do an excellent job of at tempting to save a drown ing victim But their rescue work goes far beyond drownings Choking victims people who have something like a big slab of concrete all on them suffer a stroke or heart attack or some other health and life threatening situation have all been helped by the firefighters But our firefighters ex pertise in the area of rescue work is even more impor tant in a community like Acton With no hospital in town and ambulance ser vice coming from George town the firefighters pro vide a vital link in our emergency health care system Our congratulations to the firefighters for this most deserved honor as well as our thanks for pro viding this crucial service to the community GM Alternative view Dear Sirs I should like to present an alternative view to that expressed by A Nature Lover in the March issue of the Free Press This person uses a series of rather str ong adjectives to refer to a group of people shehe has never met which demonstrates unforgiveable bias However such Is perhaps to be expected in one who evidently enjoys nature while walking by an unspoiled sewage plant More seriously this letter again raises the Issue that many- people of various ages and backgrounds enjoy riding motorcycles off the highways where they can let off steam with little danger to them selves or other people For example how many Innocent people are killed by incompetent young and not so young drivers showing off to their peers on the highways in cars I suggest the number is significantly higher than those killed while riding motor cycles off the highway Are they really such a bad group The community is pleased to en- Joy the taxes paid by the mer chants who sell motorcycles and is no doubt grateful for the local Jobs that their sales produce Unfor tunately the same community does not see Tit to provide any land for the use of dirt bike riders In contrast we learn that the town spent on summer sports and thereby covered most of the costs 90 per cent of many other sporting activities We also learn that much of that money went for making many major modifications to some of the formerly most scenic areas the town see the list of structures erected etc In the article on page I have nothing against using taxpayers money to help finance sporting act ivities but I fail to see why one specific sporting activity which causes far less permanent ecological damage than sewage plants ball diamonds Ice rinks and subdivisions should receive no support whatsoever but rather suffer active persecution by socal led nature lovers The Region owns a lot of land If a small portion were made available for then this healthy form of exercise for many of our young people could be Indulged without infringing on private property As a final point would like to know why your courageous Nature Lover was unable to sign such a bigoted letter How many lawns has he she seen torn up by angry trail riders Perhaps facts would detract from the argument Yours sincerely IB Heath Nature Lover Professional Biologist and Off Road Motorcyclist Our readers write WI concerned about programs Following is a Utter to the chairman of the Halion Board of Education Auger which was filed with thii for publication Dear Mr Auger The members of the Limehouse Womens Institute were some- what concerned at their last meet ing to hear rumors the Board of Education is considering cutting the Family Studies and Industrial Arts Program in the elementary schools Following a lengthy dis cussion it was decided to write expressing our concerns about the motion made by Cam Jackson and seconded by Mrs Diane which is currently before the Board The motion reads as follows That the staff investigate and report to the finance committee and to the Board before April 1983 on all costs associated with the Boards Elementary Industrial Arts and Family Studies program And that this enquiry include all costs for staffing supplies transportation equipment costs Including all capital purchases as well as the square metresquare foot maintenance cost associated with the classroom space used for these programs Our concerns are based on what we feel is the intent in this motion We are afraid that the Intent is to cut the program as a means of cutting costs Perhaps cost must be cut somewhere but lets take a careful look at what Is being elimi nated Today more than ever before the Family Studies and Industrial Arts programs fill a very impor tant need in the home Many fam ilies have both parents working many on shift work and our young people are being called upon to ac cept more responsibilities in the home At present boys and girls take both Family Studies and Industrial Arts in our elementary schools This is an excellent oppor tunity for our young people to learn the basic skills and to apply them to every day situations The school program is often the first introduc tion to these skills As a result of the introduction In the elementary school program many students have decided to further their education in these areas of study These courses are no longer compulsory in our high schools If our elementary students are not exposed to them in schools how are they going to know whether or they want to pursue this area of study in high school We feel the Board would be doing our young people a great injustice if these programs were cut from our curriculum The number one priority in selecting program should be the needs of our students and his should be considered ahead of the dollar and cent signs We urge you to consider this care fully and retain the Family Studies and Industrial Arts programs in our elementary schools Yours truly Jean Anderson President WI Jean Secretary WI 10 years ago March If71 councillors voted themselves a pay raise but week Councillors will now earn annually- North Ratepayers are opposed to a proposal by officials of Indusmln that a worked out quarry be used as a sanitary land fill site for Metro Toronto garbage- disposal Ratepayers appeared at a public meeting at Community Hall Joe Hurst retiring clerk- administrator of the town was sur prised with a retirement party Saturday evening Family and friends all attended the gathering at the Music Hall and friends all attended the gathering at the Music Hall and Mayor Lea Duby presented Hurst with a large up holstered armchair with from the town to make his retire ment years comfortable Grant Usher has been appointed new clerkadministrator in place of Hurst with Hugh Patterson deputy clerk treasurer 20 years ago March Tom Sawyer was all the rage at Robert Little School this week Students staged the operetta Wednesday and Thursday nights at the school with Mike Vale as Tom Denise Parker Becky Thatcher Robert Flatt as Finn and Wendy as Aunt Polly A quarter mill was chopped off the county 1963 budget this year as a result of an Increase in ihe county assessment The entire county budget totals Two of Actons local hockey teams took top honors at a four- town tournament in Fergus the weekend Acton Firemen Ban tam team and the Businessmen PeeWees took home trophies Children shortchanged The following letter to Chairman of the Board of Education Bill Harrison and Robert has been filed with this newspaper for publication Dear Sir I have Just returned from the Milton Family of Schools meeting at Robert Baldwin School where our Board Trustee Bill Harrison and Robert president of Elementary Teachers Association along with several other trustees were present to discuss several that concern all of us The average class size in Elementary Schools is the highest in Ontario is In place compared with all of the school boards in the province There Is a total of boards Our teachers have been working without a contract for six months Despite the anger and frustration these dedicated people are ex periencing it is obvious that our children still come firstRobert for made it quite clear that our child ren would never be used as pawns to negotiate contracts It Is time we parents began to speak up and also give support to our childrens teachers Let us all work together to find out How our tax dollars are spent for education How does this compare to our neighbouring boards How much will It coat to Im prove How will BUI affect this situation may be number our teachers are number l Lets show them we care and share a common goal we must have more tea chers and surely the 12 being requested for is a modest proposal Parents do have a voice Our children are being shortchanged Sincerely JoanWoodall Story has snags Dear Sir Oh I went to the Press one mildewed day To complain to my friend Hartley He had to cease his teasing tone Or Id rap his head right smartly Girdles garters hose Are no concern of If he doesnt reevaluate his priorities and get on the ball Ill drop him in the Love from an Anonymous female I spent 32 cents of my retail dollar on this stamp Newspaper accuracy sore point with some The perfect guest says Your Morning Smile Is one who can make his host feel at home Jim Fleming the Minister of couldnt have read that before he appeared at the annual convention of the Ontario Community Newspapers Association in Toronto last week Dubbed the Minister of News papers for his proposal to create a press council the minister explained bis mandate was only to deal with the dally news papers However he warned that if the concentration of ownership In the community newspaper field did not abate be might be forced to look at them as wen He f tfae oread to tat op a ta field became the concen tration of ownership which could throttle a free prats The govern ment be said would create the and then step back and let fled at the number of community newspapers who voluntarily Joined the Ontario Press Council among them this newspaper So long as these press councils were effective he suggested the government would keep their hands off any further attempts at regulating the press The minister did not pooh pooh the suggestions that newspapers face real future competition from the electronic media but be felt mat people do want to depend for tbeir new and other Information on a small screen They welcome the printed page because It lets them digest the news at their own pace he maintained minister current tad for cat abort stork and Urge pictures among some news papers will soon fade away and analysis of the daws be say However be noted that the fate of the newspapers of the country both daily and community would hinge to a larger part on cost and efficiency He noted that the community newspapers had something going for them in the accuracy department as well because surveys showed less than 10 per cent of the people believe tbeir community news paper to be inaccurate That point has been a sore one for the dailies a was pointed out to UK Saturday night when It was my job to explain the role of the community newspapers to an assembly of public relations officers for the Boy Scouts of Canada assembled at the Blue Springs scout reserve for the- w Some of tat reps inaccuracies they found n stories In dailies about their groups and bow their alms were rnWnter- preted just to someone could get a cheeky or tary Far be it from roe to the newspaper serfs who are faced with dally deadlines and pressures but there have been instances where the criticism Is warranted It can apply to any purveyors of the printed word daily weekly bi weekly monthly or annual Lets face it accuracy is some times blunted by immediacy and the pressure to publish ahead of the competition We at Free Press try darndest to make stork and comment as accurate as possible But there are instances even when they are double checked that errors creep through When that happens we feel as badly as those who depend on us to convey tbtnews Mr Fleming suggests be revolution in printing which has turned the field upside down should be of enable the reporter researchers to call up Infor mation at touch of In the past It often meant tedious searches through files and other Mr Fleming acknowledged that we cant control the future but we can nudge it In the direc tion we want it to go a point I feel cant be debated aim m the subject of accuracy some readers of this column have suggested the statistics which appeared in this spot last week on the average Ontario woman were not only untrue but fabricated I cant vouch for their accuracy only to mention they came from an Ontario Government pubuca- vera to crft- lineal bad never worn any To correct that deficiency one friend sent a pared a big red bow professionally wrapped eedosmg a pair I triad them on yet but when do you can be sure I wont ten yon abort It March 1933 The arena was a colorful spot for the Carnival put on by the Arena Committee and the Acton Businessmens Association Well over 100 appeared in costume Af ter the judging of costumes and races there was a burlesque boxing match between Gordon Cook and John Dennis with Bill and Jack as seconds was timekeeper and scorer Then two teams of businessmen played a hockey match A moccasin dance culmin ated the event The band played from a platform in midice Prizes were donated by business places Mason Knitting Shoe Storey Glove D Talbot Jas Symon Wiles Rum- ley Acton Machine Shops CB Swackhamer Farmer M Pallant J AJBuchanan Elliott Bros Cooper Bros EJ Graham C Thompson Nelson and Co A Mclsaac JC Matthews Ritchie and Agar Watsons Bakery Benton Carrolls 75 years ago MarchSllM There was a gay assemblage at the rink Monday night for the fancy dress carnival Last month was a busy one for Mrs Graham Librarian at the Free Library The largest number of books ever issued in a single month since the reorganization of the library 10 years ago was given out aggregating Owing to the storm on Sunday Rev Willoughby was unable to re ach Churchill his afternoon ap pointment Rev Father Feeney has had much trouble this winter getting to his church at 100 years ago March IBS A meeting of pastors and mem bers of the several churches in town was held in the Methodist church on Friday evening to lake into consideration some means by which the desecration of the Sab bath by the GTJt authorities running local passenger and freight trains may be discon tinued A committee was named to pre pare a petition setting forth our grievance The peace and quiet of the Lords Day it and naming of train la a temptation and open opportunity for the community to detcreate the sacred day of rest for wicked and ungodly vermin have become and dH these department were dismissed for one week Actons population is