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THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2004 6 EDITORIAL with Hartley Coles Charming concert, poor venue It's too bad with all the public building constructed in Halton Hills that there is not something more suitable for a concert. Acton Citizens' Band delighted those who- attended their concert last Sunday in the community hall of the Acton arena. The music selection charmed with a mix of classics to the Basin St. Blues but the venue left much to be desired. Bandmaster Dr. George Elliott worked under trying circum- stances explaining the story behind each piece of music the band played. However, the acoustics in the community hall don't lend themselves to speaking without electronic aids or the sound of a large band in concert. Acton is so lucky to have such a tremendous musical or- ganization as the Citizens' Band. Each year it seems to get larger and more professional. We owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Elliott who has been at the podium for decades instructing novices and creating a unified musical sound from so many disparate instruments. In the smaller towns of Ontario we are often distressed when suitable athletic fields are not available. We build arenas, base- ball diamonds and soccer fields to no end. However, when it comes to providing suitable accommodation for artistic en- deavours, outside the schools, the purse strings are often closed or very tight. : It is pleasing to see so many young people involved with the Acton Citizens' Band and taking a social as well as an instru- mental part in the organization. The band does a great service to this community in not only pursuing a love of music but in helping young people adjust to society. Maybe one day down the road this community will have a suitable building for a large band concert as well as other musical activities. It will come when we realize the value of such an undertaking. e e e e Did they die in vain? The blanket coverage of the 60th anniversary of the D-Day ceremonies last Sunday in the Canadian electronic and print media was a pleasant surprise as well as a reminder that the sacrifices soldiers, sailors and airmen made over the course of World War II aré a good deal responsible for the freedom we enjoy today. One of the freedoms is the right to vote in democratic elections. There's much talk and rumours circulating that many peo- ple will not vote in the federal election on Monday, June 28, just a scant 18 days away. Reasons? It's useless exercise. Poli- ticians can't be trusted, they lie and load on even more taxes and boondoggles for the oppressed, groaning under the weight of already onerous burdens. Come on. Just think of what we might have been doing now if so many of the ordinary citizens of this country and others during World War I had not been able to contain the Nazis and others of their ilk. Refugees from Europe who lived under the heels of dictators, communism or fascism, can well fill us in about life in those countries. They had no voice and no preference. In a backhanded way if we don't bother to vote it's a rebuke to all those who died and were wounded in two world wars fighting for what some consider a useless privilege. . There's an old maxim that says: If you don't use it, you'll lose it. That could very well happen here if we don't bother to exercise our franchise. Then it could be said that those who died in the cause of freedom died in vain. SWEET SOUNDS: Acton band master George Elliott had the rapt attention of Acton Citizens' Band members during the band's spring concert at Acton arena on Sunday. -- Frances Niblock photo Signs cluttering up the town The song says "signs, signs, everywhere is signs...blocking out the scenery..." They must have been talking about Acton when they wrote that. Lately, our town seems to be cluttered with signs. I'm not re- ferring to signs that are on a business/building. The ones I refer to are the "extras." Travelling on Highway 25, North, into Acton they' re every- where, starting with the hydro poles. They advertise everything from weight loss to upcoming concerts to housing develop- ments. "Lose Weight," "Blood Donor Clinic," "Honeyfield Homes," they read, and, of course, "Garage Sale." The garage sale may have been Saturday, yet on Monday, the signs are usually still up. Some- times the ones that list the actual address, not just the street, make me want to drive up to their home and tell them to take down their expired signs. The Dude had a novel idea. Why not drive up to the adver- tised garage sale address after the sale date, open their garage and ask the homeowner what exactly is for sale. Perhaps not realistic, however, not only would it be amusing, but I'm sure they By would take down the old signs pretty fast. On Sunday night around 9 p.m., I discovered three Saturday garage sales on Longfield Road, Churchill Road and Dairy Drive still advertised. On a two-block section of Queen Street there were at least 10 signs and one additional large sign advertising a charity barbecue from May 15... which is more than three weeks ago. The list continues with real es- tate signs, detour signs and now political signs. Apparently, if one political sign is good, a group of six together is better in the eye of the would-be politician. With no offence to the candidates, the last thing I need to see when I get up in the morning is their name and party directly behind my backyard. I know it's public land and on the other side of my chain link fence, but honestly one was enough. I don't need to see four in a row. Sandwich boards are over- whelming the town. At almost Angela Tyler every major intersection and en- trance into Acton the sandwich advertising board stands. Some- times it obstructs the walking path of the pedestrian, some- times the view of a driver stopped at an intersection. I want to scream....ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Unfortunately, as far as sand- wich boards, real-estate signs and detour signs, there isn't much I can do. I know we're stuck with them. However, the others we might be able to do something about. : For candidates in the upcoming Federal Election...why not spread your signs out? It might just work to your advantage. In- stead of seeing your name once, hitting them with only one im- pact, it might be better if the voters see your name more of- ten and spread out a little more. Besides, if | can't see your name four times when | wake up in the morning, you might have a bet- ter chance of me voting for you. Ifyou are having a garage sale, do us all a favour and take down your signs when your sale is over. If not, don't be surprised one day if you find the Dude snooping around your garage looking for some bargains. b FoR HER BIRTHDAY THE WIFE Ss, -- NGHEDO Dales WANTED To Go'SOMEWHERE ExPENsivE | y SS T Yook YER To. THE GAS STATION == -- 2004 Jacy s. THE < Taaner PUBLISHING Ltp. 373 Queen Street East, Unit 1 Acton, Ontario L7J 2N2 email: thenewtanner@on.aibn.com (519) 853-0051 Fax: 853-0052 Publisher Ted Tyler ro Advertising and Circulation Bruce Cargill Marie Shadbolt Composing Danielle Mclsaac Laura Maitland Editorial Hartley Coles Editorial Contributors Frances Niblock Mike O'Leary Ellen Pieh| Maggie Petrushevsky Angela Tyler Janis Fread in Acton adjoining communities. Distributed to every home = and area as well as Every effort will be charge that part of may occur provid of publication. ADVERTISING POLICY presented; is @orrectly printed. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or omissions in advertising, but will gladly reprint without made to see advertising copy, neatly f an advertisement in which an error led a claim is made within five days