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THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2009 2 ACTON 2009 CHRISTMAS HAMPER PROGRAM Applications for Christmas Hampers will be accepted at: The Salvation Army Church 114 Mill Street East, Acton On the following Dates and Times: Tues. - Thurs., Nov. 24 - 26. 9am to Noon Saturday, Nov. 28. 9am to Noon Tues. - Thurs., Dec. 1 - 3. 2pm to 4pm Applications must be completed in person. Applicants are requested to bring Identifi cation. Acton Christmas Hamper Committee The Salvation Army Family Services, Acton Acton Rotary Club Knights of Columbus, Acton Council 8050 St. Vincent Charities of St. Joseph, Patron of Canada. TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES DUE TO EVENTS The following community events will be held within The Town Of Halton Hills as follows: Santa Claus Parade Acton Saturday, November 21, 2009 Approximately 1:00 pm 3:00 pm Parade forms on Acton Blvd. - proceeds down Acton Blvd to Queen St. West on Queen St. to Young St. to Mill St. to Main St. North to Knox Ave. ending at Prospect Park. Organized by: Acton Fire Fighters Association Santa Claus Parade Georgetown Saturday, November 21, 2009 Approximately 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm Parade forms on Sinclair Ave. at Todd Rd. proceeds down Sinclair Ave. to Guelph St. West on Guelph St. to Mill St. to Charles St. ending at the Georgetown Fairgrounds. Organized by: Georgetown Lions Club If you require any additional information regarding this temporary road closure please contact the Recreation and Parks Department at 905-873- 2601 ext 2269. 1 Halton Hills Drive, Halton Hills, ON L7G 5G2 Carries a great denture cleaner Acton High graduates celebrate commencement By Charles Tysoe Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon; Christopher Columbus the Ocean Blue. Archimedes found the fulcrum and King So lomon the beg in - ning of Wisdom - and a packed, standing-room audience found its way to the Acton High School Cafetorium for Fridays Annual Commencement ceremonies and as usual, the school community put together a very congenial affair. Valedictorian Tay- lor Grist broke up the house and some pretty ser- ious jaws on the platform, finishing his whirligig reminiscences with a rap - an art form which like nuclear fallout and other hazardous airborne sub- stances respects neither town lines, nor borders, nor traditional propriety. Judging by the few coher- ent lyrics, young Mr. Grist is perhaps fortunate that few in the stunned audi- ence got the Gist. Citius, Altius, Fortius! Swifter, Higher, Strong- er! Olympic motto or reminder? Small schools and small towns are dif- ferent. The Class of 2009 may need to be all of these things, and more. After the prizes, the smiles, the ap- plause, Mrs. Jenn Ross, introducing Grist, let slip that the world into which these grads are headed is, well, a bit of a train wreck! Just how up to that daunting challenge is this group? Here are some of the numbers: of the 110 grads, a stunning 36 were named Province of Ontario Scholars, a further 14 Graduates with Hon- ours. Five earned French Immersion Certificates, six were named Grand Prize Winners in the Be a Hero Affordable Housing Design Contest. Forty- four different graduates received among them 57 scholarships, awards and bursaries from the school, local businesses, service groups and educational associations. Twenty-eight grads divvied up 49 Top Mark Awards donated by 14 businesses and pro- fessionals in Acton and Georgetown. A further 18 shared in 28 post-sec- ondary awards, bursaries and scholarships from ten schools across Canada, from Simon Fraser in B.C. (athletic scholarship to Matthew Hartnagle) to Dalhousie University in Halifax (entrance scholar- ship to Alannah Bowes). For the ladies, Lexi Hunt- er, Veronika Gorlova, Amy Poirier and Ashley Mac- pherson were noteworthy: Macpherson added a Humber College and QEII scholarship to three subject awards; Poirier received, from Waterloo University both a Merit Scholarship and Entrance Bursary and added a QEII scholar- ship; three post-secondary awards included a Carleton and a Millennium Schol- arship. Hunter received a University of Waterloo Presidents Scholarship and a Millennium Schol- arship with multiple other awards. Leading the men were Hartnagle, (four subject and school awards); Ste- ven Grant (school, subject awards, QEII Scholar- ship, Guelph University Entrance Scholarship and Bursary); and Michael Kovacevic. The latter earned the Governor Gen- erals Academic Medal, Outstanding Graduating Scholar, four school and academic awards, and a University of Waterloo Presidents Scholarship. While space does not permit the naming of many other worthy achievers on this night, nor the dozens of award sponsors, special thanks to Sandy Medland for another tasty and at- tractive refreshment table and to Mr. Clark and the Concert Band for the Pomp and Circumstance marches. PLENTY TO SMILE ABOUT: Lexi Hunter received the Principals Award for Student Leadership and several valuable scholarships. - Charles Tysoe Photo SIZING UP A HERO: Devin Hunter, one of six Be a Hero affordable housing design Grand Prize Winners, receives Diploma from Don Evoy - Charles Tysoe Photo AS I WAS SAYING: Reflecting on uhsome- thingValedictorian Taylor Grist entertains Commencement audience. - Charles Tysoe Photo BOARD OF EDUCATION: A sea of mitre boards fronts the stage at commencement last friday night. - Charles Tysoe photo