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THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2004 THE NEW TANNER GRAPE A TASTE OF ITALY The Red Dog will re-open as A Taste of Italy in six-to-eight weeks following extensive renovations by the new owners, Joe and Lora Cortese, Acton area residents with two children at St. Joseph School. The purchase of the-vacant Mill Street eatery expands the Cortese brothers' restaurant business -- Nick Cortese owns the San Antonio Bistro in Campbellville. Joe Cortese said A Taste of Italy will feature a full lunch, dinner and take-out menu with "a bit of everything" including Italian food from various regions, entrees and sandwiches, served in a cozy, fam- ily-oriented setting and on the patio. Cortese said he will be hiring locally, and is planning a big grand opening party. FAMINE FIGHTER Congrats to Acton's Rory Watson, 12, who raised over $200 in pledges in the recent 30-hour famine for World Vision. The McKenzie-Smith Bennett School Grade 7 student ate noth- ing, drank ptenty of water and played video games during his fast, refusing even small amounts of plain white rice, which was al- lowed during the fast. Rory, who was "starved" at the end of the 30 hours, raised pledges from neighbours and paper route customers. INDIA NIGHT The sights, sounds, smells and tastes of India, as experienced by four local residents who adminis- tered polio vaccine in that Third 'World country earlier this year, will be featured at a Rotary Club of Acton Indian Night on May 28. Acton Rotarians Rob Charette and Emrys Jenkins, Charette's 19- year-old old son Jason, and Starlight Café owner Amy Yateman will share their memo- ries and images of their trip with the PolioPlus program that deliv- ers vaccine to impoverished countries. Charette said a slideshow pic- turing the "beauty and sadness" of the villages, and Indian crafts will help them describe their experi- ences. : India Night will be held upstairs at the'old Fire Hall, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Space is limited. Tick- ets are $10, and are available at Alexanian Carpet and Starlight. SPRING FLING Looking for handmade crafts, baking, or plants for your garden? If so, check out the annual Spring Fling Bazaar on Saturday (May 15) at the Acton Seniors' Recrea- tion Centre at Acton arena. The event, which also features lunch and raffles, runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. SAFETY AWARDS Congrats to Acton's Yvonne Johansen, whose dedication to the Acton Block Parents program and hard work promoting safety, earned her a Halton Region Safety Council Safety Award. The Council also gave Lifesaving Awards to Town life- guards Amanda Potterton and- Shalyn Morgan, who quickly pro- vided first aid to a young Rockwood boy who thrown from his bicycle after cutting in front of a vehicle on Elizabeth Drive. CANINE CASH Coady, the seven-year-old Ger- man shorthaired Pointer, will be on hand -- with his master, Acton dentist Peter Lemiski --for Satur- day's (May 15) grand opening of the leash-free zone park in Pros- pect Park. Dr. Lemiski said his 19-month- old Pointer, Moose, is a little too young for the social outing and will have to miss the day's events, including dog demonstrations and information sessions. A high point of the. festivities will be when Dr. Lemiski presents a $1,200 cheque to the mayor, on behalf of HH-DOG -- Halton Hills Dog Owners Group. SN "I read about the group (HH- DOG) raising money for the project in Grapevine last year, and told them to raise whatever they can and I'd fund the balance," Dr. Lemiski said. Mayor Rick Bonnette will cut a leash to officially open the Dog Day in the Park festivities at 12 p.m. CHARITY BBQ Proceeds from the annual bar- becue and fun day at M&M Meats on Saturday (May15) will benefit the Crohn's and Colitis Founda- tion. : Acton's fourth annual charity barbecue will feature face paint- ing, a DJ, raffles and good food prepared by local dignitaries, in- cluding Mayor Rick Bonnette who will be flipping burgers from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. VOLUNTEER APPEAL Want to be part of the Acton Trunk Sale? Organizers are looking for vol- unteers to help run the Saturday shopping/schmoozing event, and are hosting a volunteer informa- tion meeting on Monday, (May 17) at the Tyler Transport office. Call 853-1550 for more details. BRUNCH TIME Volunteers and officials with the Acton branch of the Canadian Cancer Society will be the prep/ - cook/ serve and clean up team at the Kinette Club Acton Commu- nity Brunch on May 30th. The $5, all-you-can-eat brunch runs from 9:30 a.m. to | p.m. BOOK WINNERS Congrats to the Georgetown Senior Homeschool Group and the Brampton Junior Homeschool Group -- both top place finishers. in the Halton Hills library's first ever Battle of the Books for homeschooled students. Battle of the Books involves teams of students answering ques- tions about children's literature. OVERWHELMED: Citizen of the year Max MacSween was feted at the Acton Rotary Clubs annual dinner and celebration at the Royal Canadian Legion hall on Wright Ave. in Acton, Max enjoyed it even more because his wife Diane and two daughters Robin, left and Cathy, right, were there to share the occasion with him to honour Max whom a Georgetown colleague humorously dubbed "Midget of the Year." 1 I had the honour of being a judge at a non-alcoholic drink contest last week. | wish you all could have been three. Teams of high school students from Ac- ton, Georgetown and Milton represented their schools in the finals. The teams con- cocted a non-alcoholic drink, created a no drinking and driving message, deco- rated their presentation table, and themselves. for the contest finals. To say that all the 11 teams did a fine job is a huge understatement. They did an excellent job and all were a credit to themselves, their parents and their schools. I think I speak for all the judges when I say I was proud to be a part of the took part. As a bonus, none of the drinks had any calories - OK, perhaps one or two. The timing couldn't be better. The school year is coming toa close and with it come the end of year parties. Often, at this time of year, I try to write a column that might make teens think twice be- fore having a drink and getting behind the wheel. This year I am pleased to re- print the thought one group of students put into their presentation last week. The team of Hayley Humenick, Vic- toria Reynolds, Liz Little, Jessica Moore, and Lindsay Douey, representing Geor- getown District High School, went a step further in their presentation. They pro- duced a brochure to go along with their original recipe for a delicious drink they named "Tropical Enigma". Along with their safety statement they included two thought provoking stories and a copy of the "Contract for Life". I suggest this column would provide a good opportunity to sit down with your teen and have a heart to heart talk with them. Explain how it's not enough to not drink and drive but how dangerous it is to even get into a car with someone who has been drinking. Here then are the sto- ries the GD.H.S. team chose and their recipe. keRKK Death of an Innocent Went to a party, Mom, I remembered what you said. You told me not to drink Mom, so I drank soda instead. I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said T would, I didn't drink and drive Mom, even though others said I should. I know I did the right thing Mom, I know you are always right. Now the party is end- ing Mom, as everyone is driving out of sight. As | got into my car Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece. Because of the way you raised me, so responsible and sweet. | started to drive away Mom, but as I pulled out into the road, the other car contest and proud of every student who' None for the road! The Way 1 See It % with Mike © Leary 1 hear the policeman say the other guy was drunk Mom, and now I'm the one who will have to pay. I'm lying here dy- ing Mom, I wish you'd get here soon. How could this happen to me Mom? My life just burst like a balloon. There is blood all around me Mom, and most of it is mine. I hear the medic say Mom, I'll die ina short time. I just wanted to tell you, Mom, I swear I didn't drink. It was the others Mom. The others didn't think. He was probably at the same party as I. The only difference is he drank and I will die. Why do people drink Mom? It can ruin your whole life. I'm feeling sharp pains now. Pains just like a knife. The guy who hit me is walking Mom, and I don't think it is fair. I'm lying here dying here, and all he can do is stare. Tell my brother not to cry Mom. Tell Daddy to be brave. And when I go to heaven Mom, put 'Daddy's Girl" on my grave. Someone should have told him Mom, I would still be alive. By breath is getting shorter Mom. I'm becoming very scared. Please don't cry for me Mom. When I needed you, you were always there. I have one last ques- tion Mom, before I say goodbye. I didn't drink and drive, So why am I the one to die? Anonymous wk \ But You Didnt Remember the time you let me drive your car and I dented the fender? I thought you'd kill me, But you didnt. And remember the time I met your new girlfriend, you know the one you were crazy about, and she became my new girlfriend? I thought you'd floor me, But you didnt. What about the time I forgot to tell you the party was black tie, and you wore jeans? I thought you would never speak to me again, But you did. Do you remember the time I wanted to go to the concert, but you said it would be boring -- we went and it was? I thought you'd scream, "I told you so" But you didnt. fe : z Remember the time we went to the successful these programs are, but they are ee t see me Mom, and hit me like a Gis and I picked up anew girl while! well worth the effort. ate : had a girlfriend? Because the results of those who won't es | lay there on the pavement Mom, I thought you'd giveyp fein: listen are tragically plain. y _ It'sa freebie. Subsequent episodes would But you didnt. And remember the time | was drunk _ and driving? You told me I shouldnt drive, but 1 insisted. You came along to make sure I was alright. I crashed. I saw our beds side by side, I decided I would say all of this to you when you awoke. But you didnt. Anonymous. RAE Tropical Enigma | can of frozen mango juice 1 can of frozen apple cherry juice Ys cup of pineapple juice 1/4 cup of carbonated mango flavoured water ' 1 can of fresh or frozen strawberries 2 cups of ice Blend strawberries and proceed to add the frozen juices, flavoured water and pineapple juice. Crush ice and blend in with the remaining mixture. Yield: One large pitcher (approximately 4-5 drinks) keRKK To arrive alive is to have taken your life and others into account and deemed them worthy. Please drink responsibly. RRKKK Contract for Life A Foundation for Trust and Caring I recognize that there are many poten- tially destructive decisions I face everyday and commit to you that I will do everything in my power to avoid making decisions that will jeopardize my health, my safety, and overall well 'be- | ing, or your trust in me. I understand the dangers associated with the use of alco- hol and drugs and the destructive behaviours often associated with impair- ment. By signing below, I pledge my best effort to remain alcohol and drug free. | agree that I will never drive under the influence of either, or accept a ride from someone who is impaired, and I will al- ways wear a seat belt? Finally, I agree to call you if1 am ever ina situation that threatens my safety and to communicate with you regularly about issues of importance to both of us. Child Parent The only thing | would add to the con- tract is the agreement that your child can call you at any hour for a pick-up if they, or their friends, have been drinking. The first time there are no lectures, no punishments. have some consequences but full marks are always given for acting responsibly. Congratulations again to all the partici- 'pants in this challenge. Carry the message to your friends. It's hard to measure how