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Chvcfc out our ft LHaUma OUMsntH Lifetime Service Guarantee program flagging Elliott says The H11U ActiVan service could won be lost If the steady decline In ridenhlp doesn change toon Acton Councillor Norm Elliott Since the service began early in 196 has declined from a peak of almost rides per month In June of that year to about In October of this year a town report shows If Ihls trend continues there wan be any ActiVan In the future Elliott It looks like this thing Is going downhill Town operations engineer Ted Drewlo said some regular passengers who used the for a lot of routine trips have since found other transportation and thai has resulted In a significant decline In ridenhlp But Com Elliott thinks there more to be declining numbers than a tew people who have found other transportation I think there are some disturbing numbers there in the actual usage It a steady decline from ISM he said The service in town operates with one regular van and a backup It la run by Tyler Transport In Acton A report prepared In July of this year said the Is more than per cent underutilized for even one van Recently the town has changed the mandate of the service on direction from the province to allow transportation across Regional boundaries The province will subsidize trips across Regional boundaries not municipal boundaries within the same Region Under a new schedule recently adopted by the town the ActiVan will now make trips to on the first and third Tuesday of- each month and to Brampton on the se cond and fourth Thursday of each month But for the Interregional trips the normal charge In crease to SB each way And Ihe trips will only be available between 10 a m ana p weekdays and on weekends three or more people re quest the service Physically disabled persons can travel from Halton Hills to and from other municipalities within using the van service called Pegasus run by Halton Region That service costs way Ted Tyler owner of Tyler Transport wants people to book the Interregional ActiVan trips a week In advance If those time slots are not used the van will operate in Hills he said He expects the Interreglonal ser vice to begin early In the new year The provincial government has redtflned the eligibility re quirement for the service According to new guidelines the specialized transit services are In tended for people who are unable to climb or descend steps on regular transit facilities or who cannot walk a distance of ITS metres On Inter regional trips passengers will likely have to stay on the bus longer than So minutes and wait longer than 30 minutes to be picked up said Mr Those figures are the standards set down by the town the HERALD Home Newspaper of Halton Hills Established 1 HILLS ONTARIO SATURDAY DECEMBER 1 is paces OPEN 10 10 PAYS A Twice as popular There no question that this Jolly pit In the red suit Is one fellow time of year Santa lam took time out from his busy last Saturday to attend the Glen William children Christmas party It was obviously well worth the slop over Santa was a particular lilt three Hut I reparations for his Herald photo Forgetting something What stays open on Christmas Day It never foils You go to great lengths to make sure you have everything covered for Christmas day But you forget You forget Ihe film for the camera or you forget that batteries ore not included with all toys or you head off for the long trip to gramma and realize you forgot to fill the car up with gas And what happens when Uncle Charlie drops In unexpectedly It Just wouldn be right for him not to get a gift when everybody else Well fear not Some merchant know the little problems that can arise and are prepared to sacrifice part of their Christmas day with the family so to serve you At least one gas bar will open Christmas day from 11 am to whatever time business grinds to a halt said gas bar manager John It company policy to be open he said It l mat If I open two or three hours as long as Im open Mr predicts the Street station will pump gas until Christmas And right next door to Suny at Street Is the Target Convenience Store which will close at 9 m Christmas Eve and then open for regular hours from Sam Christmas Day The store will then resume Its 14hour service until New Year Eve when again take that short 12 our break from business The main Item for sale will be film batteries cigarettes and The regular grocery Hems and special Christmas grocery Items lixe cranberry sauce and dinner foods will also be available Managers Jim Howard and Wright say last Christmas was the busiest day of the year for Target Loss of grants sparks ire Recently announced funding restraints by the provincial govern ment could mean Halton Region and the town of Hills will have to make up for almost In lost revenue Each year the provincial govern ment hands over conditional grants earmarked for certain protects and unconditional grants which can be spent as the municipalities see fit to the Region and the town However the Dec announce ment that the province will not In Georgetown Actonprepare to ring in the New Year if you re planning on ringing In the new year why not do it in person There are new year eve ceremonies In both Acton and Georgetown for young and old alike In Georgetown revellers can assemble outside Knox Presbyterian ChurcbatlloMalnSt about 11 There will be hot chocolate hot apple cider and about 300 balloons for midnight watchers to release at the stroke of midnight said organizer After the countdown to midnight Georgetown Citizen of the Year Ted Gorth the bell inside the church That s the sign for the balloon release The bell ringing now in Its seventh year Is a great way to start the Mrs Serjeantson said You can drive or Just walk down to the New Year Eve celebrations year about ISO people gathered at the church for the ceremony In Acton organizer Gerald Rennle hopes lo nave Acton Citizen of the Year Don to ring the bell at the old town hall on the stroke of Lasfyear between and 100 people gathered at the town hall to drink chocolate and countdown to midnight said Mr Rennie has rung In the new year anyone can line up and is encouraging party goers lo come down to the ceremony at said of the ceremony 1S crease unconditional grants this year has angered Regional polltl to Region move could mean It would hove find 000 or the equivalent of to two per cent of the budget somewhere else Town coffers could go down by half or about While Region has managed to keep Its overall taxes at or below the rate of inflation In recent years the town of facing in creased costs and no Increased tax base The province feels it should direct more money towards conditional grants said Region treasurer Joe However If the province targets more money for programs such as health and social services Region which pays a percentage share of those programs will have to Increase its expenditures there as well said Mr Rinaldo The effect is reduce the revenues coming Into the Region and force Halton to spend more he said The announcement has Regional poll ttdans crying foul The provincial government should have the guts and courage to stick with their sources of in come from income tax and sales tax instead of coming Into area municipalities Jurisdiction said Burlington Mayor Bird He wants the Region to protest to the provincial government OakviUc Kevin took It a step further province Is out of control he said It seems to me that Queen Park does now know happening in province He urged all the Regional municipalities from Niagara to to tell the province you don t know what you re doing anymore There will lor gift giving say the store If shows up on Christmas Day and they don t know he com lug they buy a box of chocolates they said of their customers Lost year people were waiting for me at the door in open said Mr Howard But toffee lovirs smokers and ting few videos for Ihe can find Tar git helpful Last of over videos were rented said Mr Howard Videos will also be from Winks Store Manager Kaissi tin variety will have a video section open when the store remains open hours for Christmas Day We will have a lot of fresh breads rolls and sweet goods the whole range said Mr This is Wink first year In Georgetown but the chain store will follow the company policy of ChnstmasDay The store will also carry grocery items plus all the normal conve nience Items like pop milk and said Mr Mac Convenience Stores in Georgetown will be open Christmas Day from to 9 m They are located at Mountain view and Street Mac carries the usual bread milk and assorted Rood a variety store Moviegoers will be sad to hear that Georgetown Cinemas on Guelph 11 close Christmas Day Bui den panic a night will run Spin Christmas We have a lot of people coming in Christmas said employee Yvonne far as 1 know we re going to have a full house Ms said people were disappointed that the three cinemas showing Land Before Time My Mother s An Allen and the film would not open Christmas Day Rut we can t ask the staff to ftWk she said Theatregoers on Christmas eve will be mostly teens and smaller children she added For restaurant information in town each food place will have dif hours and different policies Nightclub- health spa for BRIAN Herald By mid February local residents will be able to take In a whole new experience In nightclubs That when Albert plans to open a plush combination nightclubhealth spa at the Riviera Centre In The atmosphere we re going to create Is going to be unique said Mr Eutencier who wants keep the specifics of the buildings Interior under until opening day It a big surprise It s going to be completely different from what it is now he added The complex which consists of two adjoining buildings will contain an atmosphere of casual elegance Mr sold To give Interior that unique look Mr Euteneler has hired in designer Ivan a New York based decorator who has done work In Hollywood and Las Vegas He special Ires in nightclubs I was very fortunate to get a lead on him said Mr Euteneler In mam building one most visible from the Highway a nightclub restaurant capable of holding up to 1000 people will operate under a stato of the art light show said Mr himself a Hills resident The nightclub called the Riviera Centre until Mr Euteneler decides on a new name will also have the latest In sound systems he said The restaurant will serve special food such as pizza and chicken fingers And feature directions will be popular entertain era such as the Pointer Sisters said Mr The health club which will be call the Riverside Spa will have a social recreational atmosphere to it he said The club will contain Indoor and outdoor pools tennis courts hot tubs saunas weight lifting equip ment and life cycles and will also of aerobics lessons The club will also Include a daycare centre Mr also plans build a licensed outdoor pa I In The main thing is that we have buildings which were designed for particular purpose Mr said The main design was excellent The huge parking lot around the complex lias been paved In anticipation of the February open Mr expects this to be a successful venture because of the time effort and money he putting into the complex Since buying the club October be has put over million into the two buildings Most previous owners went in with very little capital and they thought they d make a quick buck and it t materialize We three Kings trie was definite in spirits for the in a rousing Park School Christmas presentation of Hate Heart and relished his It Christmas The kindergarten student joined luiuon in the spotlight I Herald photo