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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2004 THE NEW TANNER GRAPEVINEF PERFECT PAIR Congrats to Acton Figure Skating Club member Maja Vermeulen, who with partner Andrew Doleman from Burlington, won Silver at the 2004 BMO Skate Canada Junior Nationals in Nepean on the weekend. The pair placed second in the first compulsory dance, and first in the second compulsory dance, leaving them tied for first going into the free dance, which they finished in second place for Silver. : GYM GREAT A Gold on the beam and fifth over-all earned Acton's Kathleen Brown, 9, a berth at the provincial gymnastics meet in April in Owen Sound. Brown, a Grade four student at St. Joseph School, will compete in the third qualifying meet March 7 in Willowdale, using the meet as a tune-up for the provincials. Brown trains 21.5 hours weekly with the Halton Hills Gymnastics Club in Georgetown. OPEN HOUSE Community organizers will showcase their services at a Community Open House slated for February 28 at the Georgetown Market Place. Hosted by the Cooperative Program Planning Committee of Halton Hills and the Town, the focus ofthe open house is celebrating life in Acton and Georgetown on the 30" anniversary of their amalgamation into Halton Hills. Students who need to complete their 40 hours of volunteer service are invited to call Joy Thompson at 905-873-2601 ext. 2263. BIG WHEEL Automotive scribe Jim Kenzie's 1992 VW Jetta has never run better. The Acton area writer, featured regularly in the Star's Wheels section, and on TSN's Motoring 2004, recently let Acton High School transportation technology students hone their skills on his wheels. Tech teacher Mike Zimmerman, a former VW employee, oversaw the repairs to. Kenzie's Jetta. VICTORIA WORK Anyone interested in Town and Regional plans for work on Victoria Street, from Mill Street to Cobblehill Road, is invited to a public information centre on Tuesday (Feb.17) at the Civic Centre in Georgetown. The existing watermain and sanitary sewer will be replaced and Victoria Avenue will be reconstructed, including a sidewalk, curb and storm sewer, to fix on-going flooding problems Staff will be on hand between 6:30 and 8 p.m. to review and discuss the design drawings. BOOK LOVERS The popular Battle of the Books program at the Acton and Georgetown libraries is being expanded to include a battle just for homeschooled children. If you homeschool, and are interested in having your children participate, call 905-873-2681 ext.2515, for details about the Battle of the Books program. BLOOD CLINIC Acton blood donor clinic chair, Julia Roehrig, is hoping for a large turnout at the next blood donor clinic on February 19, at the Legion on Wright Avenue. The Canadian Blood Service clinic runs from 4:30 to 8 p.m. John Mowat's family expresses appreciation To the friends, acquaintances and Acton Community of John Mowat: We the family of John Mowat heard, through many stories and recollections from you, a side of John, which many of us did not fully appreciate. Through those stories that we were privileged to hear at the visitations and the funeral, we came to understand John's role in your community. You all alluded in different ways to all that John gave to you but we want to express our awe and appreciation for the fondness, kindness, concern tolerance and recognition that you gave to John. We were greatly touched by your embrace of John's abilities, challenges and uniqueness. John would never be able to accept that he impacted so strongly on so many people who had the'wisdom to see his fit in his community and for him and for us we feel humbled. You truly were his community family. Thank you. From the family of John Mowat -- his sister, nephew, nieces, cousins and spouses. 10 dates for $10... continued from page 6 reverted back to conventional thinking, a date we were used to. He picked me up and I ran from the comfort of my warm home to the car. We took a drive to Guelph where we could talk about the week's events and spend some quality time together. I was surprised that we did end up with a part of one of the $10 dates. After a nice dinner out, we ended up with #7...'Hollywood Central'...commonly known as watching a movie on television together. AUTO ACES: Members of the Acton High School transportation technology class worked on this VW Jetta owned by Acton area resident Jim Kenzie (second from right), who writes for the Star's Wheels section and hosts a car show on TS! Kevin Potter, instructor Mike Zimmerman, Amy Hilton, Derek Burton, Tyler Verheul, and J eanine Stumpe. -- Submitted photo N. The students include, from left: Mike Pickett, Itall started very innocently. I was watching a football game when an orgy broke out. My fragile sensitivities may never be the same. It was so traumatizing I went to all three masses at St. Joseph's last weekend seeking peace of mind. OK, OK, so I'm stretching the truth a tad. To be honest, I switched off the Superbowl half-time show after the first few minutes. I had no interest in watching a bunch of hairballs prance around the stage grabbing their crotch's while screaming semi-obscene lyrics at the crowd. At the risk of sounding like my father; that was not music, nor was it entertaining. I was spared the spectacle of he- who-was-booed-off-the-stage at Toronto's SARS-stock last summer exposing Janet Jackson's right | breast. Unfortunately, the respite was temporary. On the Monday I received no less than nine e-mails, including two from friends overseas, showing me Ms. Jackson's --er-asset, in all its -- um -- glory. My first impression was that the "decorative jewellery" must have hurt like Hell. The second was a_ graphic understanding of why they put the plastic in plastic surgery. But I digress. The tempest in a C cup that followed was childish at best and insulting to our intelligence in fact. Ms. Jackson and Justin Littletalent at first claimed the episode was a tragic mishap. I can only come to the sad conclusion that thesé two lightweights think we are as dumb as they obviously are. CBS, MTV, and many other acronyms also flopped out into the open. Accusations and counterclaims filled the airwaves. Apologies were issued while morals, or the lack of them, were traded back and forth. One could easily be conned into thinking something important was being debated here. In the end, CBS announced they were installing a five minute delay lest any other "entertainer" was tempted to demonstrate their table dancing talents. It's comforting to know our democracy is safe for a few more days. \ I could not understand the 'Looking for the biggest boobs! | The Way | See It with Mike O'Leary pa controversy here in Ontario. Had Ms. Jackson performed here she could have strolled onto the field topless with no need for the subterfuge. So why the local controversy? Could it be that Ontarians were astounded to see a bare breast on TV? Obviously, the ones speaking out are not fans of "Fashion Television" often seen on local stations during the dinner hours. I know that only because I endure shows like this while doing exhaustive research on current fashion trends so "The Bride" always steps-out looking her best. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! The whole sorry episode, and sorry is the right word for it, was an obvious attempt by two mediocre performers to give a boost to their sagging (no pun intended) careers. Time will tell ifthey have been successful. Perhaps Mae West will be proven to be right: She said, "There's no such thing as bad publicity." : Meanwhile, on the home front, the politically correct police are hot on the trail of Don Cherry. The bombastic Cherry is under indictment for comments he made during a recent segment of Coach's Comer regarding hockey visors and the heritage of those who wear them. Federal Language Commissioner Dyan Adam has made her probe into the incident a "major issue" and a top priority for her commission. Speaking on CFRB, Mississauga Mayor Haze' McCallion opined that Ms. Adam must not have much to occupy her time. My concern is that we even have an office called the Federal Language Commissioner. What's up with that? Who's the minister-- George Orwell? Last Friday, my favourite giggle (sic) of diletantes, the CBC (Cementheads Babbling Constantly) slithered into the frey. CBC executive VP (very impressive title--eh?) Harold Redekopp said Mr. Cherry's comments were inappropriate and won't be tolerated (betcha old Harry ~ defending free speech, not promoting 'Canadians don't give a rat's ass wears a visor). To protect us, the CBC braintrust is instituting a seven second delay so they can censor any potential future slurs. Isn't that just typical of the mushy headed thinking at the CBC? They gave Don Cherry a time-out instead of a spanking. What will they censor next? On ice fights perhaps? These over-paid hypocrites at the CBC, and in government, should be run out of town on a rail. These are the very people who should be censorship. These institutions dare to lecture us that we have to listen to whatever politically-correct drivel they want to promote, no matter how personally or morally objectionable we find it. Oh, they're all for free speech all right: provided we parrot their opinions. Anything else is verboten. Assorted senators, MPs and others, whose opinions most about, also gave us their two-cents worth. I've always thought that if we are going to get our money's worth from these guys we should get two opinions for two cents. The CBC's real problem with Cherry is that he is so popular. Many people tune in only for Coach's Corner. Hockey is one of the CBC's few profitable programs. The programs favoured by the artsy- fartsy CBC elite, Ukrainian Clog Dancing -- or whatever, are sewers for our tax money. The Jackson and Cherry cases go to prove one thing, the biggest boobs in this country are at the CBC and in government. Instead of a nipple piercing a la Ms. Jackson, I suggest we outfit our boobs with muzzles. Maybe we could get a seven year delay in having to listen to their nonsense. Next Saturday will be the first Coach's Corner since the visor discussion. It should be one of the most watched TV events in Canadian history. Canadians want to see ifDon will take this lying down. I don't think he will. But I'd like to see Cherry tell Happy Harold and his Merry Men (persons?) where they can shove their seven second delay. And it wouldn't come anywhere close to the visor.