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THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2006 THE NEW TANNER 7 GRAPEVINE with Mike OLeary The Way I See It BRAIN TRUST: The Halton-Peel Cattlemens Association and Peel Junior Farmers re- cently joined forces to organize a fundraiser for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. Collectively, the organizations raised $7,500, which they presented to Michelle Baldwin, of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, in honour of David Thompson, a Georgetown area farmer and for- mer Peel Junior Farmer member, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in December 2005. At the request of Thompson, the monies will be used by the foundation to further brain tumour research. Shown, left to right: Tom McDonald, president, Halton-Peel Cattlemens Association; Baldwin; Laura Boughen, president, Peel Junior Farmers; Jackie and David Thompson. - Anne Howden Thompson photo Whats on tap? Water! I see where the United Church brass came out last week asking their congregations to eliminate/reduce the consumption of bottled water. I was confused. With all the problems in our society today why would they pick on bottled water of all things? I will admit that I am not a bottled water fan. I have great confidence in ourtown water supplies notwith- standing the Walkerton tragedy of a few years ago. My girls are another story, but I think its more a matter of convenience rather than concern over water quality or taste. This is not to say I have never been in cities where the water quality was suspect. Some places on the prairies have a high alkali content which led me to believe the inhabitants had a cast iron stomach. Mexicos waters have long been known to be highly suspect. When I was in a place where I had concerns over water quality my Irish resourcefulness solved the problem handily. I sub- stituted beer. It made the toothpaste taste odd but nothing one couldnt get used to. But I digress. At first I thought the United Church aggressive suggestion was an environmental problem. We all see empty discarded water bottles almost everywhere. I think that is more a case of social irresponsibil- ity more than anything else. Still, I wouldnt object to a deposit sys- tem, perhaps .50 cents a bottle, so the people involved at least think twice before fouling our streets and sidewalks. The bottled water industry points out they are using only 2% of all plastic bottles produced. That still adds up to an extra thousands of tons of waste that no one seems to be responsible for. Except, of course, the slobs who are too lazy, or stupid, or both, to take care of their own waste. Another concern of the church is that we continue to have a high standard of public water supplies. They dont want to see our water supplies privatized. I submit, how- ever, that any move in that direction would be political suicide. Recall, if you will, the hue and cry when the previous Tory government tried to privatize hydro. The taxes on bottled water were another area of concern. For instance we now pay about 1,000 times as much for bottled water than we do for an equal amount of tap water. Thats not all tax but the amount is relative to the overall cost. The problem the United Church saw was that this was exclusionary. I couldnt understand that. But then a member of the congregation said she was afraid we would lose our source of good free tap water. Anyone who is familiar with the cost of public water supplies today knows it is far from free. Bottled water is a discretionary expense. Its distribution is so wide- spread its certainly not any kind of status symbol, if it ever was. There are situations where bottled water is advisable. If you are on a well water system where the quality is suspect better to be safe than sorry. As a reminder, all well water should be tested by the Region. Samples can be left at the regional offices in the Sobeys Plaza here in town. Other examples where bottled water is advisable are cottages where there is no well, offices with no water supply, trade show/convention floors, etc. Im sure there are other situations which indicate bottled water is advisable. But I dont believe these are the uses the United Church is referring to. The United Church then asked a rhetorical question: Whats next? Oxygen? Actually, there are oxygen cafes now in cities like Tokyo and New York. Thats mostly because the air pollution is so bad that some folks there feel the need to refresh themselves. Thats why I can understand the United Churchs stand if they had confined themselves to the obvious pollution problem. The rest of the problems they see I consider to be specious. I resent having to pay up to $2.00 for a bottle of water at public events where all of the drinking fountains have been disconnected due to health concerns. But you gotta do what you gotta do. At least the van doesnt run on bottled water. Or coffee. *** Ive been burning all summer over the escalating price of gasoline as haave most of us. It seemed that ev- ery time a duck flew across the sun in the gulf states our gas jumped. I dont blame the service sta- tions. I blame big oil. I also blame the speculators that play the gaso- line futures market on the various commodity exchanges across the country. Last week I saw gasoline in the mid.80 cent range. The highest I saw on the way back from the north was .93-.94 cent. This came after a summer where I got downright giddy when gas was 99.9 cent think- ing I got a good buy. Its obvious the various levels of government dont have the testicular fortitude to take action on this prob- lem. Nor does anyone seem to have the courage to put a stop to tying the price of natural gas and hydro to the price of oil. Our only hope seems to be the commodities exchange officials. Perhaps they can/will regulate Big Oil which seems to be the bench- mark on which all energy costs are based. For better or worse, our homes and businesses are dependant on reasonable priced energy. Higher prices can only be passed on so far until the economy starts to crash. I think were at that point right now. THE FIVE SS Halton Police began a new high enforcement, educational traffic initiative on Monday to coincide with the opening of school. Dubbed Safe Start its goal is to remind the driving public of the need to be cour- teous to other drivers and children, particularly at this time. Every available traffic officer is to be focused on the five Ss: speeding, seatbelts, stop signs, school zones and school buses. Safe Start concludes on September 15 but future initiatives dubbed Safe Arrival and Safe Return will be implemented to ensure the focus on the five Ss is maintained throughout the year. FIRST SERMON Seminarian Brendan McGrath, a scant two years away from being ordained a priest, gave the homily at the three weekend masses at St. Josephs Church in Acton. Brendan developed a vocation for the priest- hood after graduating in political science from McGill University in Montreal. He has been licensed to preach by the Diocese of Hamilton of which St. Josephs is part. Brendan chose as his topic the part faith plays in the Eucharist. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill McGrath of Acton, he assisted at a Hamilton parish this summer prior to returning to school in London where 18 semi- narians are preparing for ordination for the Hamilton diocese. LITERACY CLASSES As students are busy preparing to get back to school for the new semester, its also a good time for adults struggling with their own literacy skills to register for Literacy North Haltons Fall programming in Acton. Literacy North Halton opens its doors to adult students all year round providing one on one indi- vidualized training as well as small group sessions for adults who wish to upgrade their basic spelling, math and computer skills. Adults can register now by call- ing Literacy North Halton at (905) 873 2200. All calls are treated as confidential. RAILWAY HISTORY The Esquesing Historical Society is hosting a slide show presenta- tion of the history of the railway era in this area by local author and archivist Mark Rowe on Wednesday, September 13 at Knox Church in Georgetown. Everyone is welcome to the presentation which will il- lustrate the important part railways have played in Halton Hills since the first rail line went through in the 1850s from Toronto to London. The Credit Valley Railway which ran from Allandale near Barrie, to Hamilton through Georgetown and the Toronto Suburban Electric Line popularly called the Radial are all part of the history of this area. Theres no charge for the show. VON NEEDS VOLUNTEERS The Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) urgently needs caring men and women to visit lonely and isolated seniors to offer friendship, conversation and outings. It only requires from one to three hours a week and it can make a big differ- ence in a lonely persons life. Regardless of age, lonely is lonely, the VON asserts, and theyve seen the difference volunteers make in the lives of so many. Interested? Call the VON, Volunteers Support Program at 905-827-8800, ext. 2317 or 1-800- 387-7127, ext. 2317. YOUTH DANCE Youth from 10 to 14 years of age are welcome to the Acton Ladies Silver Bullet hockey team Youth Dance at the community centre (arena) from 7:30 to 11p.m. on Fri- day, September 8. Theres a $5 admission and more information is available by calling 905-702-9270. OLD BEACH SAFE The summer is rapidly waning but theres still some hot weather ahead for swimming and Halton health officials have again cleared the old beach in Prospect Park for swim- ming and other water sports. The latest tests (August 24) showed the Acton beach, the beach at Kelso Conservation Area and three beaches in Oakville have acceptable levels of bacteria and are deemed safe for swimming. Two Burlington beaches were turned down. Beach quality information is avail- able on a 24-hour bases by calling 905-825-6000 or toll free 1-866-442- 5866. Ask for beach information. After regular business hours press 2 for health information. SALSA BABIES Cant get your partner on the dance floor? New moms can dance their way back into shape with someone they love in a different way their babies and its all to the Salsa beat. Classes at the Dance Inn on Mill St., Acton, start September 14 and are appropriate for new moms, with babies anywhere from 2 months and up as long as they are comfortable supporting the babiys weight in some type of carrier. For more infor- mation visit www.salsababies.com or call Erin Tate at 519-853-8156. Whats Your Beef? Put it in a letter to the Editor! Deadline is Tuesday at noon.