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THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2011 Acton businesses hold their own over holiday season While Christmas 2010 was not a banner year, many Acton merchants and service providers said business at least equalled last year, and in some cases, there were modest gains. At Shoppers Drug Mart, the busiest shopping frenzies were December 23 and 24. "We had a lot of staff so we didn't have lineups out the door, but we were busy," manager Jennifer Warren said on Friday, adding while there didn't seem to be any big sellers this year, there weren't any leftover "duds." "Our sales were comparable (to last year). I think we were up maybe two per cent over last year ­ it was about the same." At Blooms Away Flower Shop, where they sold out of poinsettias at the beginning of Christmas week, owner Kelly Wilson said sales were on par with last year. "We weren't busy, but sales weren't down either," Wilson said on Friday, adding flower arrangements and plants for table settings were big sellers. At Blue Springs Spa and Salon, Christmas was much busier than the last few years, with staff fully booked with hair and nail appointments, but New Year's is not as busy. "Christmas was amazing but New Year's isn't as extravagant as it used to be," owner Darlene Saunders said on Friday, adding they had more appointments for blow dries. "No one is going fancy, fancy with updo's," Saunders said, adding they sold a lot of gift certificates before Christmas. She said their sales numbers have been on a steady, slow increase for the past six months. When people got tired of turkey, they called for pizza. At New Orleans Pizza, manager Debi Price said they had "average" Christmas sales. "Sales were pretty decent ­ about the same as last year," Price said on Monday, adding it seemed like a lot of people were out of town. Holiday sales at Giant Tiger were "basically flat" according to owner Alec Boyd. "We did okay. Last year we had a pretty good December because we kind of got back what we lost on the year before when things weren't so rosy," Boyd said on Friday, adding, "we are very happy." One advice from his young daughter, Boyd stocked lots of the very popular Silly Bands, which were "really hot. He said Zhu Zhu pets ­ "silly little hamsters" were also in big demand. THE NEW TANNER 3 HOLIDAY SOUNDS: Acton students of Margaret Faas' Music For Young Children held a pre-Christmas piano recital. The students posed with some of the items each family donated to the local food bank. They include, from left: Wesley Wieck, Aidan Grimison, Emma LeRouzes, Sam Daleman, Abbygail Wieck, Isaac Daleman, John Millar, Julia Godden, Arianne LeRouzes, Jackson Alves, Clarissa Keane, Laughlin Keane, Katie Hoffmann, Ben Hoffman, Ben Wang, Andrea Gallant, Hannah Wang and Sasha Daleman. - Submitted photo Function and comfort The Town will spend up to $10,140 to replace the 19 council and senior staff chairs in the Council Chambers. The existing chairs are 21 years old and worn out. The new chairs, to be purchased from Corporate Express Canada Inc., of Mississauga, will include ergonomic features to ensure proper posture and comfort. Several designs of chairs will be tested. *** Improvements to the councillors' lounge at the Civic Centre will include new furniture, wireless Internet and installation of the door into the lounge from the councillors' office/washroom area. Staff will investigate the costs to make the so-called Georgetown Room more functional, and report back before any purchases are made. Staff will also Town Digest determine how much it would cost to have wireless Internet and furniture in the lower atrium. Churchill houses Subject to a long list of conditions, Town councillors have approved a rezoning that will allow 16 single-family homes to be built on the east side of Churchill Road south, across from Rachlin Drive. The proposal requires the landowner, Acton East Housing Corporation, to monitor gas on the property because it is near the closed Acton landfill site, and to do an air quality analysis because of the proximity of the Acton Wastewater Treatment plant. The Regional Municipality of Halton www.halton.ca Public Notice Halton Region 2011 budget and business Plan The proposed 2011 Budget and Business Plan for Halton Region including the Regional property tax levy, water and wastewater rates and user fees and charges will be considered at the following meetings: Tuesday, January 11 ­ 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 12 ­ 9:30 a.m. Thursday, January 13 ­ 9:30 a.m. Monday, January 24 ­ 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 26 ­ 9:30 a.m. Health & Social Services Committee Planning & Public Works Committee Administration & Finance Committee Budget Review Committee Regional Council Ballinafad General Store Best Wishes for a Prosperous New Year. Thank you for your patronage this past year. Parents of Grade 8 Students are invited to attend a Parent Information Evening Parents of students who are planning to attend Acton or Georgetown District High School in September 2011 are welcome to come and hear more about the Grade 9 program, services for students, and diploma requirements. Parents should attend the Parents' Information Night at their home school (the school designated for their community). For more information, please contact the school office. Acton High School Georgetown District High School Wednesday, January 12th Tuesday, January 11th Large group presentation: 7 p.m. Large Group Assembly: 6:30 p.m. Small group questions and Guided Tours: 7:00 p.m. answers sessions: 7:45 p.m. Special Programs: 7:00 (see below) Tours: 8:30 p.m. (Essential Level & Special Education; (519) 853-2920 French Immersion; ISP/IB and Gifted; http://act.hdsb.ca Gr. 8 LEAP Program; Lifeskills and The Centre) (905) 877-6966 http://georgetowndistricthighschool.com All of the above meetings will be held at the Halton Regional Centre located at 1151 Bronte Road in Oakville. Copies of the 2011 Budget and Business Plan binders will be available for viewing on Halton's website at www.halton.ca and can be obtained free of charge from or viewed at the Office of the Regional Clerk at the Halton Regional Centre between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Halton residents are invited to provide input on the proposed 2011 Budget and Business Plan. If you wish to register as a delegate for the purpose of addressing one of the Committees, please contact the Office of the Regional Clerk and Council Services at 905-825-6000 ext. 7254. You may also provide input or comments on Halton's website at www.halton.ca/budget. Please let us know as soon as possible if you will have an accessibility or accommodation need at a Halton Region hosted event or meeting. 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1 Dial 311 or 905-825-6000 · Toll Free 1-866-442-5866 · TTY 905-827-9833 · www.halton.ca 060111 HALTON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD David Euale, Director Don Vrooman, Chair