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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 9 GRAPEVINE Over 95 years ago, annoyed at a decision by the Esquesing Agricultural Society to hold all future fall fairs in Georgetown, enterprising farmers and Acton residents decided they would start their own fall fair. Previ- ously the Society held the fair in Acton one year and in George- town the next, alternating over K V O U  T U V [ G C T U It was never established why the Esquesing Society made the Georgetown-only move, possibly because it was domi- nated but residents of that area. Or perhaps our neighbouring village assumed the benefits conferred by the fair would be much better in their ball park instead of ours. In view of the intense competition and sports rivalry of the time, the latter explanation seems sensible. It matters not now because those enterprising agricultur- alists from Acton, instead of crying over the loss, looked on the negative decision as an opportunity. They instituted their own fall fair in 1913 and have never looked back. Indeed, of the two annual shows, even the most prejudiced would have to admit the Acton Fall Fair is one of the best little fairs in Ontario Time has proven how right those first ladies and gentle- men were to form their own association. Esquesing Agri- cultural Society, now known as the Georgetown Fair, celebrated 150 years of existence with a real plum, booking the RCMP musical ride as part of the fall fair. Unfortunately it coincided with the arrival of Hurricane Fran. Many fairgoers from here were disappointed that some of the RCMP program had to be cancelled. It wasnt unexpected. The Legion sponsored cadet corps (Air & Sea) have started the fall season and are welcom- ing new members. If interested in the Air Cadets, they meet on Monday evenings from 7-9pm at the Acton Legion. The Sea Cadet meetings are on Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm. There are age require- ments Acton Legion PRO Jim Hays says, so call the Legion between those hours for fur- ther information. 4 G O C K P U K F G P V K  G F The human remains found off Wellington Rd. 20, west of Wellington Rd. 39 in Guelph-Eramosa Township, J C X G D G G P K F G P V K  G F C U V J Q U G of 58-year-old Edward Poole of the township. Mr. Poole was reported missing on Dec. H T Q O J K U T G U K F G P E G at 7159 Wellington Rd. 30. His skeletal remains were found on Monday, Sept. 15 by a hiker. Brunch time Its time again for the Acton Community Brunch sponsored by the Kinette Club of Ac- ton. Its this Sunday, Sept. 28 from 9:30am to 1pm at the Acton Community Centre # T G P C $ T W P E J K U Y K V J pre-schoolers free and consists of an all-you-can-eat buffet. The event is held to promote community spirit and to help raise funds for Acton com- munity groups. Preschool program Theres still time to register for a preschool program at Halton Hills Public Library! They offer programs for E J K N F T G P C I G F O Q P V J U V Q years. You can register online at www.library.hhpl.on.ca or in person at either branch. The Acton Branch is at 17 River Street beside Robert Little School. Georgetown is at 9 Church St. in downtown Geor- getown. For more information, E C N N Z Q T 519-853-0301. Need food The Salvation Army in Ac- ton is appealing to members of the community for help in stocking their food cup- board. The Family Services Office has seen an increase in clients this year, who are struggling with limited income to provide the necessities of life. Shelves are running low of peanut butter, jam, Kraft Dinner, canned meat, stews, vegetables and fruit, soup, dry pasta, pasta sauce, juice, instant coffee, tea and sugar. Any and all donations would be greatly appreciated. Items can be brought to the Acton Salvation Army Church or Thrift Store 120 Mill Street East. A drop-off donation box has also been placed at the Acton Sobeys Store. Please call 519-853-1140 or 519-853- K H [ Q W E C P J G N R W U J G N R those less fortunate. Charitable tax receipts can be issued for  P C P E K C N F Q P C V K Q P U Recycling rewards The Ontario Power Authority and Canadian Tire are offering rewards for old room air con- F K V K Q P K P I W P K V U F G J W O K F K  G T U C P F J C N Q I G P ? Q Q T N C O R U 1 N F units will be collected for re- cycling at Canadian Tire stores across Ontario the weekends of October 18-19 and October 2 C T V K E K R C P V U Y K N N receive a $10 to $25 gift card for their recyclable product. Call stores for hours of col- lection. Mom to Mom Sale The popular Fall Mom to Mom Sale is being held at St. Albans Anglican Church, 19 St. Albans Drive, Acton, this Saturday, Sept. 27 from 9am till 12 noon. Items for sale include childrens and infants toys, games, books, clothes, cribs, strollers, high chairs and playpens. Call Susanne at 519-853-0390 for further information. 41 years of operation Did you know that Jim James has been operating his hockey school in Acton for 41 years. He and Harold Townsley started the school and it has been going gangbusters ever since. Now the first young players at the school saw their youngsters attend and at the rate it is going, their grand- children may soon be taking instructions at the school. Congratulations, Jim. Club Sobeys Sobeys, including the Acton store, launched Club Sobeys and Club Sobeys Mastercard Q P 6 W G U F C [ 5 G R V 5 Q D G [ U says the Club Sobeys is unique in Canadian grocery retail- ing because of the variety of ways customers can collect and redeem the points they collect. Members simply swipe their card every time they shop to earn one point for every dollar spent, with additional opportunities to earn bonus points through in=store product promotions. Rewards range from instant in-store savings at check-out, food related rewards from their online catalogues or automatic conversion of points to Aero- plan Miles. Coles Slaw with Hartley Coles Once upon a fair... The Georgetown Fair, over the years, had a reputation for be- ing wholly or partially disabled by the vagaries of the weather, principally drenching rain. Acton Fair, too, has had its share of in- clement weather, saved in part by the old arena, used for exhibits, shows and contests while the heavens rages outside. As one who has attended the Acton Fall Fair over the last 70 years, Ive marveled at the changes wrought by various ex- ecutives in transforming what was once almost strictly a rural H C K T K P V Q C O Q F G T P T G ? G E V K Q P Q H the community, both rural and urban. The have never just relied on the trusted and true methods of keeping the fair going, keeping abreast of the times with innova- tions, experimenting with new programs exhibits # E V Q P ( C K T J C U C N U Q D G P G  V G F enormously by the beauty of its site in Prospect Park. When autumn turns the shoreline into a M C N G K F Q U E Q R G Q H E Q N Q W T K V T G ? G E V U on the millpond surface of Fairy Lake, creating a panorama other fairs would love to have, it does have a detrimental effect, how- G X G T E Q P  P K P I C E V K X K V K G U Y K V J K P the borders when it seems the fair is bursting at the seams. Those of us long in the tooth can remember Friday night perform- ances in the metal-clad arena, when jumping horses on the dirt floor was the main attraction, along with such rustic pursuits as chasing the greasy pig or musical chairs on horseback. The crowds cheered on local favourites as the Acton Citizens Band, then under the baton of Alf Perrott, thundering out Sousa marches or rendering the old favourite, Therell Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight. What a difference now with sophisticated displays of school work, crafts, preserves, home crafts and an area set up for entertainment and, of course, the Miss Acton Fair contest. The Fair once had few mid- way rides, much to the disgust of kids who waited for them all year. There have been side sows where shady ladies paraded in front of wide-eyed young men, enticing them inside the tent. Remember the strong men who challenged local muscle-bound youths to wrestle or box them in the ring? Sometimes the midway had a few shady characters man- ning their rides and parents kept their daughters either home or close to them on the fair grounds. There were always rumors, never corroborated, that some simple or handicapped person had been accosted by some roustabout, arrested and E Q P  P G F V Q V J G E G N N U K P V J G Q N F town hall, by the village con- stable. During the days of the Great Depression, the dirty zoo as were known, money was so scarce that the 10 cents admis- sion to the fair was about as far removed from a lot of families as a $50 bill. Thats when the boys in town invented unique ways of sneaking into what was then a one day affair, over fences, swimming Fairy Lake and charging the gate Today their descendents are clutching $20 bills. POSER: 5-year-old Sam, a registered Belgian show horse, 19 hands high and weighing in a 2,200 lbs was kindly allowed to show off for the kids at Education Day, Friday at the Acton Fall Fair, thanks to his owner Manuel Tararis of Erin. Sam spent his time in the coral prancing, trotting, posing, and would often trot over for the kids to pet. His size impressed the kids and adults alike. - Ken Baker photo.