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THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012 THE NEW TANNER 7 GRAPEVINE Welcome Wickenheiser? Acton girls and women who love hockey are invited to enter the "Why Hockey Rocks in Your Community" contest launched by three-time Olympic Gold medallist Hayley Wickenheiser who wants women to make some noise for the game they love and the hometown they play in. Contestants must create a 60-to-90-second video demonstrating true Canadian spirit and girl power. On the line for the winning minor hockey team is a skate with Wickenheiser, an autograph and pictures session, a speech and prizes ­ some of her personal memorabilia. Videos must be posted to YouTube and the link submitted via hayleywickenheiser. com. The video with the most "likes" wins. town, the new Fire Department HQ, various solar-powered homes ­ call 905-299-2327 for details ­ the historic Devereaux House, and the Willow Park Ecology Centre in Norval. Money management Want to learn how to control your bills, build a budget, save for a goal, or understand credit? Representatives of Habitat for Humanity are offering a free, five-week HomeWorks financial workshop at Bethel Christian Reformed Church beginning May 3 and running Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. DANCE DIVAS: The Town sponsored dance at the Acton arena/community centre on Friday Pre-registration is required by drew one of the largest recent crowds, including, from left: Ethan Constable, Haylen Kri, Megan calling 905-637-4446 or on- Deschamps and Hayly Simpson. ­ Ted Tyler photo line at www.habitathalton.ca Have and Have Not Some people at the Have... Have Not dinner at Knox Presbyterian Church on Saturday Dutiful donors will eat a meal of pulled pork, There were two first-timers chilli and salad, while others at the recent Acton blood donor will eat just rice. The dinner clinic at the Legion when 42 is a fundraiser for the Mercy units were collected. The next Children's Centre in Kenya, a clinic is May 7 at the Acton school for Aids orphans that arena/community centre, from Knox has supported for ap4 to 8 p.m. To make an appoint- proximately four years. ment call 1-888-236-6283. At the door, guests will draw a "Have" or Have Not" ticket Earth Day celebrations to determine what they will The Town's 12th annual eat ­ for a nominal fee "Have Earth Day celebrations on Sat- Nots" can upgrade to the full urday at the Trafalgar Road meal. Dinner begins at 6 p.m., works centre includes great and tickets are available at the deals ­ $5 per tree, up to four door. until 10 a.m. ­ free compost and wood chips, a free dropCar seat compliance off for Household Hazardous Halton police were imWaste (HHW), and Electronic pressed with the much better Waste, displays and interactive "pass" rate at a child car seat fun and prizes for kids and lots clinic in Georgetown on Satof food. urday. The failure rate at past This year's Earth Day Fair clinics has been as high as 70 runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. per cent, but dropped to 53 per at Georgetown Marketplace cent on the weekend ­ still not Mall and features a Birds of great, but much better. Halton Prey exhibit from 11 a.m. to 1 police will conduct a random p.m., kids' activities with the vehicle stop to check for seatCredit Valley Conservation belt compliance on September and Conservation Halton and 29. free energy kits at the Union Gas booth. Donations to local Shoppers' alert food banks will be gratefully The shovels are in the ground accepted at both events. for the upscale designer factory The new Acton library on outlet being built at Trafalgar River Street is one of five Road and Steeles Avenue in Green Tour locations where Halton Hills. Calloway REIT green technologies lessen the and Simon Property Group environmental impacts through staged an official groundsustainable energy and water breaking ceremony for the conservation policies and Toronto Premium Outlet with practices. The library tour runs local officials ­ anxious to see from 10 to 11 a.m. the start of construction for Other Green Tour locations the 500,000-square-foot mall, include Wastewise in George- slated to open August 2013. Angela practises her curtsey By Since the "Royal Wedding" last spring, it's hard not to get back into the excitement of the Royal family. For a while, with scandal and just some bad public stunts by some members and of course the death of Princess Diana, I think a lot of people wondered why we even bother with the Royal family, or for some why we even have a Monarchy and Queen. This year marks Queen Elizabeth II's 60th year of reign. Since the age of 26 she has been the Queen and sovereign to millions of people and a list of countries too long to list. She is 86 years old and doesn't seem to be stopping for anybody or anything. The other night, the CBC had a two-night special on about the Queen and I started watching it because I will admit, there wasn't much else on at the time. However, within a few minutes, I was captivated. It was such an awakening in an odd way to see the Queen in different aspects that we don't normally see or have explained. For example, the special delved into how it is not the Queen's parliament which is a misconception I never really thought about. The old photos and film clips were amazing. It reviewed some of the many overseas trips our Sovereign has accomplished in her reign. In 60 years she has traveled almost 300 times overseas. When you think about what is needed for any travel for her as far as the basics of clothing to the security required, 300 trips is an overwhelming thought. Then if you think about how many of these trips were done in the early stages of Angela Tyler her being Queen and how travel even forty years ago was not anything like it is today, it becomes even more amazing how far she has travelled. Although the "ohs and ahs" of the Queen and the Royals are what most of us see ­ you know the pictures in the magazines or the weddings on television ­ the show also inputted how important her visits, which may appear to be just a form of royal promotion, actually are very important to the UK economy and the countries that are visited, beyond the actual visit. Here are some QEII facts I found interesting: She has given out about 78,000 Christmas puddings to staff continuing the custom of King George V and King George VI. In addition, the Queen gives all her staff a gift at Christmas time Since 1952, she has conferred over 387,700 honours and awards. Over the course of Her reign, around 1.1-million people have attended garden parties at Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyrood House With the birth of Prince Andrew in 1960, Elizabeth became the first reigning Sovereign to have a child since Queen Victoria, who had her youngest child, Princess Beatrice, in 1857. Elizabeth is patron of more than 620 charities and organizations. It may be almost a week late and not the day that is celebrated as her birthday however, the Queen's birthday was April 21 so, Happy Birthday Your Majesty! She's really pretty amazing. QUEEN FOR A DAY: Good sport that she is, on a dare, Julie Conroy ­ Acton's newly "crowned" Citizen of the Year ­ agreed to wear this crown all day on Monday. ­ Frances Niblock photo