The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

4 THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007 Best Price, Best Service Since 1972 FAX: 519-853-1559 379 Queen St., Acton ON L7J 2N2 519-853-1553 1-888-833-8953 ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??? ????? ???????? ??? ???????? ???? ????? ????? ???????????? ??? ?????? ??? ?????????? ??? ?????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??? ???????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ???? ???????? ??? ??????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?????????????? ??????????????????????? ????????????? ??????????????????????? ?????????????????????? ??????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????? ?????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????? ??????????????????????????? ??????????????????????? ???????????????? ??????????????????????? ??????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????? ??????????????????? ??????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ??????????????? ????????????????????????? ????????????? ???????????????????????? ?????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????? ??????????????? ???????????????????????? ??????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????? ???????????????? ??????????????????????? ?????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????? 2007 COAST TO COAST FLIGHTS By Frances Niblock Biodegradable or recy- clable cups and plates could replace the styrofoam ones now used by the Town at civic functions. Green will be a way of life in Halton Hills with Councils unanimous approv- al of a task force to develop a Green Plan to preserve and protect the environment. Mayor Rick Bonnette launched the environmental initiative at the May 15 coun- cil meeting with a Notice of Motion that identified the increasing harm from green- house gas and the failure of humanity to fully commit to preservation and conser- vation, as the most serious problems facing the planet. Bonnette said with growth stalled for several years by a lack of water in Acton and Georgetown, and the provinces long-range plans for growth in halton, now is the perfect time for the Town to develop an environmental strategy and do its part by thinking globally and acting locally. Bonnette said the Green Plan developed by the task force must come up with a workable, affordable plan. Noting that various levels of government are involved with environmental issues, Bonnette said he wants the Halton Hills Green Plan to focus on what the Town can do for years to come to pro- tect, preserve and enhance our environment and set priorities and services and program delivery. Bonnette said any Green Plan must be practical, af- fordable, reasonable and enforceable, and there must be community buy-in so the task force will consult with local industry Neilsens has already shown interest the local agricultural industry and all levels of government. Theres only a handful of communities across Canada that have come forward with a Green Plan. Were not going to try to reinvent the wheel. Weve already downloaded some of their programs for the task force to look at, Bonnette said, adding he hopes to see an environment blueprint in seven months. Regional Ward 3/4 Coun- cillor Jane Fogal applauded Bonnette for taking a leader- ship position on something that is extremely important to everyone, whether they know it, or not. Fogal, agreed with Bon- nette that the community and businesses will buy in to the plan, which she said should be called a Sustainability Plan, not a Green Plan, as they try to get a handle on growth. This is a Green Plan what- ever that means. I dont know if it means sustainability or if its greener living, but its definitely a great start, Fogal said. Acton Councillor Jon Hurst said he enthusiastically sup- ported the Green task force and while the Town has done a good job, theres more to do. Hurst quoted Kermit the Frog on one of the problems they face. Its not easy being Green. The easy part is probably being green. The hard part is establishing the will, the de- sire and financial wherewithal to move forward towards the betterment of our local and global environment, Hurst said. Some of the Towns exist- ing environmental initiatives including an anti-idle bylaw, energy efficient traffic sig- nals, energy efficient street lighting, storm water treat- ment designs that produce less pollutants and traffic signals that use 15 per cent less electricity. Regional Ward 1/2 Coun- cillor Clark Somerville agreed they have made environmen- tal progress, but still have a way to go. and they need to. We go out to Earth Day, when we are helping people celebrate the environment and were handing out food, as the Town, on styrofoam plates, Somerville said, add- ing there are styrofoam cups all over the Civic Centre. We should be getting those things out of here and replacing them with ones that either are biodegradable or recyclable or something, he said. The Task Force the mayor as chair, a councillor from each ward and key commu- nity stakeholders will come back with a work plan and budget within two months and a draft Green Plan by the end of the year. Halton Hills goes green May 25 at Raxx Complex tribute tickets now available at X-treme while supplies last