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THE NEW TANNER6THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2010 Editorialwith Frances NiblockBecause they careUntil you walk in a mile in someone elses shoes or roll a mile in their wheelchair it can be very difficult to understand their issues, concerns and point of view, and doing so can be a real eye-opener as witnessed earlier this week when local politicians and Town staff accompanied wheelchair bound Acton resident Lorna Brooks on a tour of the downtown.From uneven pavement, steep slopes on curb cuts, narrow sidewalks and difficult to manoeuvre railway crossings, getting around Acton is not always easy for those in wheelchairs, those DRIVE TO ARRIVE ALIVE: Acton District High School received a $500 cheque from the North who use mobility devices or push strollers.Halton Injury Prevention Committee in a draw as part of the Drive to Arrive Alive campaign. Acton Councillors Jon Hurst, Clark Somerville and Mayor Deputy Chief Bob Percy (left) presented the cheque to Acton High School student council members Rick Bonnette learned first hand the obstacles that people like Rebecca Woolford, Daniel Hunter, Nicole Dixon, Niki Tremblay, Jenifer MacArthur, co-chair of Brooks face daily as they go about their business as they walked the North Halton Injury Prevention Committee and principal Bert OHearn. Submitted photothe entire length of Mill Street, noting all of the obstacles and safety concerns.B.Y.O.B. has a whole new meaningFor Brooks, who often avoids shopping in the east end of Acton because she feels the railway tracks are unsafe, and who is forced The other day I was listening to doesnt even offer you the option onto the street in several areas because the sidewalk is in such the radio on the computer. Dude of buying a bag which I have a bad shape, the tour was a validation that her concerns are real and Sr. gave me a satellite radio a beef with. Its great to be all eco-someone is listening. For the politicians, it underscored the need couple years ago for Christmas friendly yet, it stinks when you go By for improvements some of which have already been made.and with it came the ability to use to buy something and realize you Angela TylerMost of us dont worry about our safety when we walk down-the online radio as well. Since forgot your bag. I often wonder town, but for some, the journey is daunting. Because of high Little J has been in our lives, Ive why they dont let you re-use the other recyclables in the garbage been listening to the talk radio boxes that the groceries came in. thresholds, Brooks is unable to get into many Acton stores, yet for years until this past visit.stations quite a bit.This way the boxes are still being she is not bitter she just would like officials to acknowledge I find it hard to remember to The other day while listening, recycled. I am guessing they get her concerns and try to make changes.bring my bags when Im doing one of the hosts was talking about money for their cardboard when As Dick Spear, the Towns Superintendent of Public Works groceries. More than once Ive the whole bring your own bag to they recycle, so if they let their said, years ago no one worried about the degree of the slope be-been almost in town and turned the grocery store thing. As the sat-customers use the boxes they tween the sidewalk and road slopes of such a degree in some around to come back to get the ellite radio is an American thing, would be out money.areas that Brooks worries shell be pitched out of her chair.bags. Then there are days when their discussion was quite inter-I have come to grips with the The Town has made many changes to meet and exceed ac-I just cant be bothered going esting. The bring your own bag buying bags or bringing your cessibility legislation from the province and plans to do more to home. I know that must sound thing apparently is just catching own at the grocery store. In some improve pedestrian safety, as money becomes available.bad, however, whats the lesser of on in the States.ways, I actually prefer it because two evilswasting fuel to head It is to Brooks credit that she does not have a militant attitude I like it when we are in the the bags I use are more sturdy back home to get the bags or hav-States and grocery shopping. than plastic and because they are or is demanding immediate changes she knows it will take a lot ing to buy two or three bags at First, I dont have to bring my bigger I have less to carry into of money and time to improve conditions, but shes confident that the grocery store? After all, I do bags. Dont get me wrong, Im the house when I get back. How-her elected officials will do what is right, because they care. re-use the bags for household gar-all for the being more environ-ever, Im having issues with other mbage so they arent being tossed entally friendly however, its stores now doing the same thing.into the landfill for no reason.a nice break not having to re-The other day I was at a depart-mWhat makes me wonder is ember to bring the bags. The ment store to buy a floaty thing when the stores charge for bags. other thing I like is that most of for Little J. The item wasnt that Looking BackI suppose it does discourage one the places Ive shopped at in the big and I wasnt about to use a from plastic and encourages you States offer you a choice of paper bag for it, however, when the to bring your own however, I do or plastic bags. I like using paper clerk asked me if I wanted a bag wonder what happens with the bags. I think it is a better choice and would have been charged for Ten Years Agodetermine how Actons Leon money. I much prefer the stores because it is my understanding it, I was temporarily irked and I Concerned with a brain drain Paulin died in his cell at the that encourage you to bring your that they are recyclablethats dont really know why. to other GTA municipalities and Maplehurst Detention Centre in own bag by offering a discount, if they have recycling in the area. I guess its the way of the world the private sector, Halton Hills Milton. Paulin, 44, was charged Athough nominal, for using your t my folks condo in Florida, the now. B.Y.O.B. no longer means hired a consultant to revamp with second degree murder in own.recycling thing has just started. what it used to. It now means Town job classifications and the the stabbing death of Hanzel The new superstore in Milton It felt weird tossing plastic and bring your own bag.pay scale.Honeywell of Acton. Police dont know why When will four Acton parks Linda Berrys car drifted into be built and what will they look an on-coming transport truck on like? those were the main Guelph Line, north of Brook-questions asked at a public ville, killing the Acton mother meeting to review long range of two.park plans. Bonnie Ross is installed as Contestants in the first Ac-the first woman president of the ton Idol contest entertained a Rotary Club of Acton.large crowd in Prospect Park Five Years Agofor the Canada Day celebra- A coroners inquest will tions.Distributed to every home in Acton and area,EditorPublisheras well as adjoining communities.Ted TylerFrances NiblockEvery effort will be made to see advertising copy, neatly presented, is Editorial Contributorscorrectly printed. 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