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THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1998 THE NEW TANNER 11 Proud to belong to Federation ... Continued from Page 4 end conferences, dinner meetings, leadership oppor- tunities and leisure activities for our deserving members. The activities of the Halton Women Teachers' Association that I have listed are just a few of what has been offered over many, many years. In additions to these, prominent people in our province, our country and throughout the world will tell you of the positive affect to social justice and public education our Federa- tion of Women Teachers' Association of Ontario has been for the past 80 years.. My federation is only one of five in Ontario. Each of the other federations have ac- tively contributed to their communities, schools and students as well. (Unfortu- nately we do not have the public budget to produce the television and radio commer- cials and full page newspa- per ads of the provincial con- servatives to get this positive message out to the public.) A the Halton level, all of these activities have been delivered by teachers on their own time with only one paid full time president. As a per- son who has helped with some of the above over the years along with many oth- ers, it takes countless hours and much hard work. Please remember, this is in addition to teaching full time, partici- pating in our own school communities with extra-cur- ticular and whatever we choose to get involved with. Where does the money come from? It comes from the teachers who pay a fee to their provincial federation each year. The provincial or- ganization gives a certain percentage back to the local organizations for them to manage and organize. Now I ask you, does this sound like a "union that needs slamming" as both Premier and Minister of Edu- cation have suggested time and time again? I let your readers decide. Linda Middaugh Sterling stolen Cash and two sets of sterling silver flatware valued at $5,000 were taken during a break-in last Tuesday at a rural Acton home. Police report that sometime between 6:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. thieves entered the house by breaking glass in a rear door. on z : Mieies a ae turn signal _ Police are looking for a white or grey car that is missing its right turn signal and headlight cover. The car parts were found on the front lawn by a Storey Drive homeowner last Tuesday. A neighbour reported she had heard a loud crash about 2 p.m. but didn't investigate. Police think that a motorist drove across the front lawn and hit the house, damaging the bricks and a window. ae es Shane Adams in his full knight's regalia. Acton man dreams of damsels and dragons By FRANCES NIBLOCK The New Tanner As a young boy Acton's Shane Adams dreamed of being a knight -- of wearing chain mail and jousting like 'the noblemen of old. Today Adams, 28, has traded his tinfoil costume for real chain mail and his dream is now a reality -- he owns a thriving business called Black Knight Entertainment, featuring the Knights of Valour Medieval Road Show, and regularly performs his jousting skills for appreciative crowds. Adams looks the part -- he's 6'4" with a wild mane of curly blond hair and dressed in his authentic chain mail protection and armed with a lance he's an impos- ing figure on his horse. Joust- ing isn't for sissies and there's a very real danger of injury when man and beast gallop at each other, armed with lances or swords. "Jousting began in the 9th century as soldiers worked on their battle skills, but the tournaments didn't start un- til the 11th century and they were the demolition derbies of medieval times ," Adams explained in a recent inter- view. "dé: lot of people think of Camelot when they think of knights -- the chivalry, hon- our and valour, but really, many knights were just hired mercenaries. The churches clamped down on jousting in the 11th century because it was so dangerous. They re- fused to bury anyone killed while jousting." Adams got hooked on knights and jousting when he was five or six years old af- ter watching movies featur- ing Robin Hood and Ivanhoe. "The horses and the steel got to me. There's an amaz- ing combat fight on horse- back over a damsel in distress in one of the movies. My par- ents always had horses so it didn't take long for me. to make a tinfoil costume and mount up. A family friend made me a wooden sword and I cherished it as long as it lasted. "When I joust I feel like I'm really there. It's not the macho things that attracts me -- it's the purity of horse and man living by their skills and wits." After seeing a Medieval Times show in Florida as a teen Adams knew that's what he wanted to do. He parlayed his riding skills into a tryout for the Toronto Medieval Times in 1993 and was hired on the spot. Adams stayed with the show, performing nightly, until an injury sidelined him. He had also decided that the show was " too Hollywood." "There wasn't enough au- thenticity for me. The cos- tumes were polyester and tin- sel whereas the costume I See DREAMS, Page 12 My name is Zenon Sikora and I've been an Acton resident for 20 years. My promise is to install the best equipment for the money resulting in the best protection and peace of mind. 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