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Your Hometown Newspaper Volume 10 No. 6 Thursday, February 8, 2007 THE NEW Newstand Price 40 + GST Whats Inside Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2Continued on page 2 Dont Forget Your Valentine on Feb. 14. Page 14 Mae Hoare celebrates her 90th The prodigal son returns. Garth Turner after years in the political wilderness re- turns to the fathers home - the Liberals. Page 14. CELEBRATING 90: Since Mae Hoare was born on Feb. 14 1917, (Valentines Day) it may have some bearing on the fact this native Actonian has a big heart. Her many activities include delivering Meals-on-Wheels from Links2Care. Shes shown here with George Hargrave, left, and Wes Fountain, right, starting out on her route. Actons 37th annual Peewee Hockey Tourney attracted some unusual guests. Page 17. Expanded ActiVan service approved Hope to double ridership Brent Marshall new Town Fire Chief Brent Marshall is the Towns new Fire Chief. The Acton resident, who joined the Acton fire department almost 35 years ago, takes over Febru- ary 19 as Chief, and Director of Fire Protection and Prevention Services. Town Council ratified the promotion on Monday following an open competition of internal and external candidates. Marshall has been District One (Acton) Chief since 1986, after working up through the part-time volunteer firefighter ranks. Marshall retired as Haltons COA last year to stage an unsuccessful run for the Halton Chairmans job, vacated by the retiring Joyce Savoline. After the municipal election, Marshall said there were options open to him, but he chose to apply for the Chiefs job after the retirement of Bob Meads because fire fighting has always been part of his life. My heart has always been with the Department. Even though I was doing other things in terms of my career, I never left the active part of the fire fighting service and continued as a part-time/vol- unteer, Marshall said on Tuesday. Now is the right time for me to be able to move from a part-time rank to a full-time professional rank, he said, adding the Department faces a number of challenges and objectives, including Brent Marshall By Frances Niblock Evening and weekend ser- vice, more marketing and new scheduling software thats the plan to double ridership on the Towns re- cently expanded ActiVan transit service. The Towns new transit co-ordinator, Don Clarkson, provided Town Council with a snapshot look at ActiVan service initiatives at a recent council meeting. Although counci l lors balked at expanding to a full transit service last year, it improved access to public transportation and the existing ActiVan service by purchasing two new vehicles and relaxing the restrictive criteria so all seniors, and people with disabilities, may ride within Halton Hills. Since 1981, Tyler Trans- port Limited of Acton has operated the ActiVan service for the Town and it was lone bidder on a new contract for 2007 for ActiVan drivers. Counc i l app roved a $113,000 purchase order with Tyler for this year with provision for $135,000 and cost-of-living for up to three By Frances Niblock Actons Mae Hoare is older than many of the Meals-on-Wheels clients that she delivers hot food to weekly as a volunteer, but her age has not dimin- ished her willingness to help others. Hoare celebrates her 90th birthday on February 14 her family is hosting an afternoon reception at the Legion on Sunday (February 11) to mark a remarkable life. Hoare never smoked, rarely drinks and credits a strong constitution and optimistic outlook for the good, long life she is living in Acton. You just keep happy, Hoare said about her approach to life, which in- cludes deep roots in many community groups, service organizations and St. Albans Church, where shes been a choir member for over 75 years. You make yourself useful. I certainly am not going to sit around and do noth- ing. I just like doing things and helping people, Hoare said last Thursday. TO ITS WORTH THE DRIVE ACTON MOTORS 8531280 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY Rockwood 856-2222 $33/WEEK5 YEARS 2002 Saturn SC1.......................................$6,666