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Your Hometown Newspaper 'Chaotic' traffic on Acton Blvd. By FRANCES NIBLOCK The New Tanner "An accident waiting to happen." That's how McKenzie-Smith Bennett Public School Principal Nancy Johnston assesses the chaotic traffic situation out- side the school on Acton Boulevard. In fact, at least one student has been hit by a vehicle while crossing Acton Boul- evard and there have been several close calls, The combination of ille- gally stopped and sometimes parked cars, hundreds of stu- dents streaming across the toad in the morning and af- ternoon, the number of buses servicing students and the ont of the parking lots all add to what Johnston de- scribed as a "very serious oroblem," with ; "A lot of the problems are iresult "<9 more traffic move- _ nent this year," Johnston "a on Thursday. "There seems to be a lot more parents dropping off and picking up their kids and not all of them are doing any- thing illegal or we'd be able to do more about it." 'I think we need to look at a number of solutions -- an eclectic approach in terms of parent education," Johnston said, -- that the Town has been asked to hire a crossing guard for the existing cross walk at Mill Street. The safety issue is also being studied by the Acton Kids Count Committee which is comprised of school and Board o: cation offi- cials, parent group repre- sentatives, the Halton Health Department and Town staff and local police. "We don't have all the so- lutions but we are looking at moving the bus pick-up and drop-off area, building a walkway at the north en- trance so ee ~ have to cross the parking lot to get to the school a : Acton parent Leslie Mann, a member of the Acton Kids Count Commit- tee, echoes Johnston's con- cerns about the safety issues. Mann, who lives on Acton Boulevard, won't let her kids walk to school alone because she feels it's unsafe. "The north parking "eeraamye feet disaster," Mann explained. i "There are cars < a ie grass, cars in the fire route and the south end parking lot is pretty bad too." "We are trying to find a good place for the parents to drop their kids off and might suggest that they stop on south bound Churchill (Road) and let their kids out on the field so they can walk safely to the playground." Halton pupils tops in literacy tests By MAGGIE PETRUSHEVSKY The New Tanner Halton's Gr. 3 pupils topped their counterparts across the province in the recent provincially-adminis- tered literacy tests. Ethel Gardiner, a retired primary school teacher and chair of the new Halton Dis- trict School Board , said Halton's youngsters were first in the province among the public boards and only pupils emp them. "Our kids did excep- tionally well. We're very proud of them," Gardiner says. "They were tops in reading and writing and they weren't bad in math either." But the board won't be i on its laurels. Test- ing is all very well but only if it is used to provide a basis for improvement, she says. That's the challenge now. Staff has to figure out how to improve whatever weakness in the system these tests may Newstand price: 40¢ + GST Wear a Red Nose on Friday, Feb. 6 Day! | Introducing Lighten Up DON SEDDON Over 25 Years Parts Experience Canada to Serve Our Customers Better 357 Queen St, €., Acton 's®) 853-0200 ACHILLES in Acton (805) 453-8965 pall BIG CUT: Everyone got into the act cutting the huge ribbon at the official arena opening with the big shears operated by Acton Councillors Rick Bonnette and Norm Elliott as well as Mayor Marilyn Serjeantson, MP Julian Reed, arena manager John Archibald, MPP Ted Chudleigh and superintendent of facilities Paul Stover. - Eve Martin photo of new arena and community centre BY FRANCES NIBLOCK The New Tanner A decade of planning, praying and perseverance paid off on Sunday as Acton officially opened the new $5.3 million Acton Arena and Community Centre. The crowd was excited and proud and the praise abundant and well deserved during the centre-ice, ribbon- cutting ceremony. Halton Hills Mayor Marilyn Serjeantson, (skates waiting in the dressing room) was introduced to the enthu- siastic crowd of approxi- mately 600, by master of cer- emonies Halton Hills Acting Administrator Janet Lunn Stewert. "This is a top-notch facil- ity, a facility to be proud of and to take care of," the mayor said. "We are all owners and our tax dollars have built it and it's up to us to take pride in it's upkeep and preserva- tion," Serjeantson said as she stood centre ice with local dignitaries and other key players. "This is a time to celebrate and enjoy. Have a great day," Serjeantson urged the enthu- siastic crowd. Introducing him as "Mr. Acton Arena", Lunn Stewart then called Councillor Norm Elliott to the podium. On Elliott's list of people to thank was the former owner of the eight-acre arena site, Alfio Manarin. "T didn't see Alfio Manarin here today, but gen- erally speaking, those sorts of thank you's go unnoticed by the public," Elliott said, add- ing that the town was given a "bargain basement price" for the site because, "Manarin wanted to see something special happen in Acton." Elliott also thanked Ac- ton's former and present lo- cal newspaper staffer Hartley Coles. "Hartley, your editorials always served as that little going and you made us aware of the feelings of the commu- nity," Elliott said. Engineer Bill Sproule of Cochrane PBK Group, the architects, told the crowd that they had a lot of fun getting facility designed and t "This is as nice a commu- nity/recreation facility as you'll find anywhere in Canada and we're extremely proud of it. * Bill Law, the architect and designer, deserves a round of applause for his work," Sproule said. sibowa eeryane was to leave the agi Fonec Park inet ane lor Elliott noted that the old arena holds a lot of good memories. 'For many, many years you suffered though the frus- tration of operating out of a community centre that was old and decrepid," Elliott said. Never -- the - less, it hada lot of history, energy and ers and figure skaters. "T hope that the spirit from Prospect Park could move up to this facility when they brought over the ice-making machine," Elliott said. "T hope that those ghosts were riding on that Zamboni so that we could transfer them from the old facility to this one." Chair of the Acton Arena fund Devlopment Commitee, Councillor Rick Bonnette thanked the fund raising committee that has raised $155,000 to date. "Without their hard work and dedication we wouldn't have been able to raise money for upgrades, like the indi- vidual seats you're sitting on today. Acton got behind the project and we all can be proud," Bonnette said. With that, a long gold banner was stretched before the dignitaries at centre ice Each was handed scissors to cut the ceremonial ribbon and officially open the new Acton Arena and Commu- one separate school board's have uncovered. extra incentive to keep us ghosts of former hockey play- _nity Centre. Ask abour our Toyota 1 . * plus tax Grad Program DOWN 1998 Toyota Tercel 2 Door e AM/FM Cassette « Int. Wipers » Body Side Mouldings «Digital Clock * 60/40 Rear Seat » Full Wheel Covers *48 MOS., FREIGHT & PD.E. INCLUDED $14,184 MRSP GEORGETOWN TOYOTA SALES 15 MOUNTAINVIEW RD. N., GEORGETOWN 877-2296 Tor. 874-4276 WEBSITE at www. haltonhills.com/toyota or E-MAIL at toyota@aztec-net.com *Based on a 48-month walkaway lease. First payment and security deposit due on delivery, based on 96,000 kms. Additional km charge of $0.07 if applicable.