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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2004 THE NEW TANNER 3 FUN&FRIENDS: Acton's Natasha 5 Pe ke, 17, (left) and Amanda Williams, 18, love to hang out at the Off The Wall youth centre on Mill Street where they find friends, programs and fun. -- Frances Niblock photo Halton District School Board to get The Halton District School Board will get $80,000 in extra provincial money to support rural schools because of provin- cial changes to the definition of a rural school. The number of rural schools in Halton doubles to four, with Pineview and Limehouse now classified as rural, joining Brookville and P.W. Merry. Halton's superintendent of business services, Carla Kisko said because the Board receives so small a portion of rural school funding, the change is "not going to make a heck of a lot of difference in the way we operate in Halton." "It will support adminis- tration in small rural schools that don't generate the kind of base funding that would entitle it to prin- cipals, vice-principals and clerical staff," Kisco said recently. Halton received $78,000 in 2003/04 for a distant schools grant introduced by the former Conservative government last year. The new funding is in addition to those grants, and will be provided annually. Off The Wall Youth Centre a hit with teens... continued from page 1 "You can relax here and you know.you aren't going to be hassled on the street by anybody else," Pike said. "The police don't like people hanging around on the streets and I was one of those people who was not al- lowed to hang out, so I had no where to go." Both the Acton and Geor- getown youth centres and programming are provided by Halton Hills Community Support and Information that wants teens to have a caring, non-judgmental, safe and friendly environment. There are two qualified youth workers in Acton who supervise programs, provide a sounding board with guid- ance, support and resources. The programs -- kareoke and wacky krafty nights for the juniors and sexual health Town DIGEST Until now, the rural clas- sification was based on the distance to the next school. The new definition uses Statistics Canada data and postal codes to identify ru- ral schools. YMCA UPDATE YMCA owner Mike Caputo said the conversion of the Mill Street building into rental apartments is proceeding "as fast as we can." The exterior building has been stripped and cleaned and new windows installed, Acton Home Hardware but Caputo, a partner with Boyd Brearley in Glenrock Properties Inc., of Glen Williams, would not even guess when the luxury up- scale apartments and a ground floor commercial development will be ready. I don't even want to speculate anymore, be- cause no target works out, so we play it week-by-week and we'll hope for the best," Caputo said last Thursday, adding all that was stopping them from closing up the building with drywall was final approval LOOK FOR YOUR HOME HARDWARE FLYER IN TODAY'S ISSUE! 519-853-1730 ACTON HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT EXERCISE "- Will be held on.. Friday, November 5, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. If you are a graduate and have not received an invitation, please contact the school at 853-2920 information and a tour of Blue Springs Funeral Home for the seniors -- later this month, are designed to help teens develop positive strat- egies to deal with challenges. Child and youth worker Claire Langridge said the clearest expectation they have for teens who come to the centre is that they show respect for others, including no swearing, name calling or bullying. Langridge said now that they have two youth work- ers in Acton, they also offer individual support for teens and for their parents outside of program hours when teens can receive information, re- ferral and support. "Individuals who are hav- ing issues with decision making, conflict with peers, behaviours in the family, of the plumbing and elec- trical services. "Then it is just painting, floors and kitchens -- that stuff goes quick," he said hoping to be marketing the upscale apartments by the beginning of December. Caputo expects the main floor commercial space will be listed with a realtor by next week. The Town built the having a difficult time with their parents come to get support," Langridge said, adding they also gets kids coming in with drug and al- cohol concerns who they would refer to a qualified agency. An increased demand from parents and caregivers looking for support and in- formation led to parent support workshops and regular access to a youth worker who can do family assessments and make refer- rals for guidance and support. Joan Barham, executive director of HHCSI, said the centre is a success because of the relationship that has built up over the past five years between staff and lo- cal teens. "That's key to where kids come when they need help," $80,000 YMCA building in 1934, with a $25,000 bequest from former Storey Glove salesman A.J. Murray. It was a recreational and social centre hub, hosting all of the YMCA programs. It also housed municipal of- fices, the library, police station, the Acton Citizens" Band and various commu- nity groups and has been vacant since 1986. Barham said, teens looking for help know they will get a professional, confidential response. Barham said on going funding for the centres -- $155,000 annually -- does not exist, so they gratefully rely on the United Way, the Town, local service clubs and the Ontario Trillium Foundation for money. She said the Board of Directors is also committed to raising funds for the youth centres. DEAN WILOK B.S, Bh Thompsor Wellness Contre 25 Main Strast North Aton, Ontarie L7) 1¥9 (519) 853-3460 © FOOI/NAIL CARE #8 SPORT INJURIES © PEDIATRICS #DIABETIC/ARTHRINE FOOT CONDITIONS 9 CUSTOM ORTHOTICS AND FOOTWEAR HOME VISITS tt iis Women in Business Success Conference Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004 8:30 am to 3:30 pn IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS SUCCESS Marcia Barhydt, Willowtree Customer Service Turn Your Customers into Your Sales Force Anne Peace, People at Peace What Colour is Your Entrepreneurial Style? Theresa Syer, Hospitality Solutions Successful Marketing Wendy Hue, Partners in Progress When is it Time to Hire? Keynote address by Norma Gamble, recipient, 2003 Athena Award Blue Springs Golf and Country Club, 13448 Dublin Line, Halton Hills Regular Registration by noon Tues., Oct. 26 Chamber Members $80.00 Non Members Registration fee includes continental breakfast, lunch, snacks & workbooks All prices include tax Please call 905-877-7119 : or visit www.haltonhillschamber.on.ca to register. /COGECO RBC Royal Bank $95.00