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THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012 THE NEW TANNER 7 GRAPEVINE Mirror Game at Town Hall Lucky MSB students will be in the audience for a private p e r f o r m a n c e o f M i r ro r Game by Acton's new To Be Determined Theatre Company at the Acton Town Hall Centre on March 27. The youth company will also perform for students at four other schools, and tickets are available for public performances on March 30 and 31. For details visit www.tobedeterminedtheatre. ca Think On No Acton students will test their critical thinking and problem solving skills at the school board's 32nd ThinkBowl competition at the end of the month in Burlington. More than 600 Junior (Grades five and six) and Intermediate (Grades seven and eight) Halton District School Board students will analyze an issue and brain storm solutions to actual real-world problems, but unlike the past when local students have competed, there are none from Acton this year. Teams of students must show their thinking in a booklet and present their solution in a skit or other dramatic presentation to a judging panel that is assessing teams' dramatic skills and booklets. What's your sign? Wa n t t o c o m m u n i c a t e better with your pre-verbal baby? Certified Baby Signs instructor Lynn Hellinga will teach parents how to use sign language with their kids on April 28 from 10 to 11 a.m., at the Acton branch of the library. Space is limited for the free session, and you can register in person or by calling 519853-0301, ex. 2550. Cultivating a garden Rotary Park and Prospect Park top the list of preferred locations for a new Acton Community Garden, according to members of a Community Garden committee that ranked a series of park sites suggested by the Town, based on sun, soil, water, impact on existing park use and size and proximity to users. Possible locations will be discussed at the group's next meeting on March 29, at 7 p.m., at the Roxy. The committee is waiting to hear if a grant application, submitted on its behalf by Community Development Halton, will be approved, and the group may partner with St. Alban's Church to apply for an additional grant. All Aboard The Platelayers Society, and its Acton chairman Mike Wa l t o n , i n v i t e s e v e r y o n e ­ armchair enthusiasts and modellers ­ to the Great British Train Show in Brampton on April 28 and 29. The Society is a group of railway enthusiasts, mainly from Southern Ontario, who are interested in the railways of Britain. For details visit www.theplatelayers.org or call John at 519-928-5213. Bethel is building Wa r m w e a t h e r a n d a minimum of red tape means Bethel is ready to officially launch its expansion and renovation project following Sunday morning's worship service. With a growing youth program, Bethel is bursting at the seams and is adding 5,000-square-feet to the church on the corner of Queen Street and Churchill Road. Al Fresco A sure sign of spring is eating outdoors, and in Acton that means a smile and BBQ treat from Jenny, the Hotdog Lady who, drawn by the warm weather, started the season early on Friday with a steady stream of customers. MOVIE TIME: A small but appreciative group of kids watched the movie Treasure Buddies last Wednesday as part of the Acton library's March Break fun. ­ Frances Niblock photo MSB students find their voices Dear Editor, Hello, I am a student at MSB and I am writing to you about Global Warming. I think that global warming is a serious problem, the Arctic is melting and the polar bears and penguins are having trouble living in their habitat because of all the pollution that we are creating. One way we could reduce global warming is to stop littering. Littering is a form of pollution and pollution causes Dear Editor, I'm writing this letter to tell you why I'm against animal abuse as they can't speak for themselves, and unlike you and I, they can't just get up and walk away. I think that animal abuse is an important issue that everyone should be aware of. I think that animal abuse is an important issue because animals are like humans in that they have needs, feelings and do feel pain. If you were to get beat up and hurt everyday, imagine how painful that would be. Animal abuse is also an issue because they can't speak for themselves because they don't have a voice. Also, unlike you and I, they can't just get up and walk away, but I'm sure if they could, they would. global warming. It is a small thing but it may help. There are only a few trash cans around town in certain places such as parks, near stores and on some corners. I think that if the town placed more trash bins around town that people will use them instead of throwing their trash on the ground. Another way to reduce global warming is to find other ways to manufacture things without producing as much pollution. This may be very hard to do but it would cause a huge impact. If we placed recycling bins next to or near the trash cans that would help. Then, recyclables could be recycled into other products and not make us manufacture as many in factories and then it would reduce pollution. Sincerely, Sam Bergin Grade 7 Student McKenzie-Smith Bennett Acton, ON Spring has sprung On Tuesday ­ the first day of spring known as the vernal equinox ­ day and night are each approximately 12 hours long (with the actual time of equal day and night, in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring a few days before the vernal equinox). The sun crossed the celestial equator going northward, rising exactly due east and setting exactly due west. To the Editor, My band Rock 40 held a St Paddy's Day fundraiser for Milton Canine Rescue at the Acton Legion on Saturday, March 17. I would like to thank all the local businesses who donated prizes, time and effort for the cause. Roxy Coffee, Dollar Stretcher Daze, Tim Horton's, Global Pet Foods, Top Nails, Acton Vet Clinic, Pet Partiers and pooches say thanks Value and several other regional businesses for their support. The event raised $2300 for the Canine Rescue group, locals came out in droves to dance the night away and enjoy some Irish cheer. Attendance was pegged at 275 people. The band would also like to thank the public for their participation and for making the show a spectacular success. Now I'm going to talk about how animal abuse is affecting my life and Canadians' lives. Animal abuse is affecting my life because I love animals and I strongly dislike that people think that it's acceptable to abuse them. It makes me sad to think about this. I think that animal abuse is affecting people in Acton because they make a choice to adopt animals from the humane society. You may be wondering how this is affecting us, well because we make the choice to adopt these animals that have felt pain and have suffered from being abused. I also think that animal abuse is affecting Canadians because there are animals like Pit bulls that attack some Canadians because of the way they were treated before. Also, Canadians adopt Greyhounds, racing dogs that get abused a lot. What is a possible solution to fix this problem? I would say that one possibility is to make sure you think about your actions before you do them, and make sure you're ready for the responsibility of a pet before getting one. What am I willing to do to solve this problem? I'm willing to speak up for animal abuse, and help out with animals that have been abused that are now at shelters I hope my letter inspired you to be aware of abused animals around you. Sincerely, Melora Andrews Grade 7 Student McKenzie-Smith Bennett Acton, ON It's definitely worth the drive to Acton! For details you may visit the band's website, www.rock40. ca and Milton Canine Rescue would be more than pleased to answer any adoption queries at http://www.petfinder.com/ shelters/ON295.html Thank you, Andre Arsenault, Rock 40