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Sundays public meeting favors developing community centre as Actons centennial project ACTON ONTARIO WEDNESDAY MARCH 1972 Year No 39 Cents Hrry acceptf keys from John right Harry wins dub car Harry Arbic a 400 club member since its inception three years ago is the lucky winner of a brand new 1972 Ford Torino in the annual elimination draw conducted by the Acton County Minor Hockey Association Mayor Lea Duby pulled the ping pong ball bearing Harry lucky number 104 from the drum last at the Legion Saturday night John Wetdon who won himself for selling the winning ticket phoned the good news to the Arbic household Minor hockey president Don Lindsay feured Harry down to the Legion where he was greeted with cheers from the club members there and presented with toe keys by Lome Doberthlen A TVradio repair man in his spare time Horry officially retires from his Job with Beardmore and Company March after years service I never won anything over before in my life Harry told the Free Press I can remember winning a cake in a draw at one of the schools in town one time Already the owner of a station wagon Harry thinks he may sell the car if he can find a buyer 1 need to keep the station wagon because of my repair buslness he pointed out Grand prize winners in the two previous car draw were Dave Metcalfe and Claude Couture BevBaddely who won last year for having the first number drawn was the second last person in this year draw She won another Hon Da I ton won 100 for the first number drawn this year Cash awards for the last four numbers went to Dot ball Ron 50 1397th ball Harold Denny ball and Holder of every number drawn won themselves Winners included Bill Syme 50 Ted Jennings Mike Moore 100 Doug Ford 125 Tom Browning 150 John Goy Sr Mcrv Millie Fabian Joyce Buchanan 250 Ted Curtis 275 John Krapek 300 Jack Rot Eva Cooper 350 MarJ and 375 Wayne Tories choose Terry OConnor Only a smattering of interested Actonites turned up at a public meeting Sunday afternoon to select completion of the community centre as the favored project over two other centennial suggestions for a community swimming pool and a town hall municipal complex Twentytwo votes were counted by chairman Jack Carpenter at the two hour meeting conclusion Broken down they amounted to 16 for continued development of the community centre five for a swimming pool and one for a new town hall complex The meeting was called by the newly appointed centennial commission to give the public a voice in the selection of a project to mark Acton birthday in 1974 Approximately adults and teens turned up to discuss the options and ability of the townspeople to raise the necessary money But when the votes came only responded Most of those present ruled out the own ailmunicipal complex as something more suited for a local debenture Issue authored by council and while a swimming pool was highly favored most despaired of raising the necessary money when it was revealed a similar project cost the town of Burlington around 400 Completion of the community centre was estimated to cost around the figure which chairman Carpenter explained could be done in three stages Sketches of the three proposals were on view for all to see the arena proposal by architect Don Skinner Town support Could the project expect support from town council asked commissioner John of the mayor who with other members of the commission has been attending weekly breakfast meetings where proposals were mulled over for the past few weeks The Maor Duby said it would all depend on the available funds but that he personally favored setting setting aside something for a protect Later pressured by Ted Tyler he said he felt that council would be ready to make a Over Tories gathered at High School in Wednesday to award yearold Terry Connor of the Halton Progressive Conservative federal nomination Bert of Acton dropped out alter polling a close third on the first ballot lnsur salesman Jim gained considerable ground on O Connor on the second ballot but couldn overtake the favored O Connor Connor polled votes Just short of the required number to a clear majority on the first Hot edged Hinton by votes on the first ballot and picked up a lot of Hinton supporters on the second ballot On the second ballot O Connor picked up an additional 30 votes bringing his total to while finished with Three busloads of Acton supporters and two busloads from Erin travelled to the meeting giving Hinton support was piped to the stage by the Lome Scots Enthusiasm Crowds of Jim Muir supporters chanted When our Jim comes marching in oh when our Jim comes marching in We know he gonna be a winner oh when our Jim comes marching in Connor had less hoopla in his presentation then the other two decision on the matter now that the centennial had come up with something concrete Discussion on the projects cited for development took twists into other directions when Mrs Stella suggested a natural Ice rink in the east end of town would also be appreciated and asked What have got for girls in Chairman Carpenter agreed recreational activities in Acton seemed to favor the and quipped that the answer to the question could also be boys A suggestion that the commission should buy a large parcel of land in the east end of town for future development as the town grew met with opposition from Paul Nielsen who argued that it would be difficult to raise money for something that abstract He the present 15 acres of Prospect park needed development and was the most suitable site for recreational activities would be wrong with tennis courts in Sir Donald Mann park and enquired Ted Tyler Jr ad mating he wouldn mind a fast game of himself Sup porta pool Councillor Norm Elliott plumping for a swimming pool himself ruled out a town hall project since if what he had read about five centre regional government In Halton materialized the project would be done anyway with help and there was no pleasure attached to it Mr Elliott felt there wasn t enough Information about a swimming pool available referring to an earlier ststement by Mrs John Krapek that she understood grants of per cent were available for such a project if it was built in conjunction with the board of education in a local school The 400 cost for a pool he was ridiculous without some sort of help in the form of grants Hi also felt Acton was boy oriented and a swimming pool would be a good yearround project usable by all For those who advocated tennis courts he reminded the meeting that excellent courts once existed in Acton and the sport had died because of pure lack of interest Going back to swimming pools Mr Elliott said It was necessary to get a pro lee everyone would support and he felt sure everyone wanted a pool In town Chairman Carpenter said it was doubtful if old age pensioners would want a swim pool and reminded his research had revealed when they were operated In conjunction with educational authorities the public use would be limited to limes when students were not using it It was his contention enough money was for educational purposes now without trying to get the public to contribute even Finish one well B II suggested the best form attack for a centennial project be to finish one thing well before attempting Actons education rate up half mill Tough financial planning since the formation of the Halton County Board Education years ago has put the board in a favorable position now Estimates show mill rate reductions for all municipalities except Acton Acton mill rate will go up by half a mill Milton will enjoy the greatest reduction in mill rate dropping 3 mills For a home assessed this represents a tax reduction of 22 Increase The reduction in the mill rate wo3 made possible when provincial grants were increased to offset increased costs The board spending will increase by this year Total expenditures will amount to Budget committee chairman Bill suggested many area boards are having to make serious cuts in their budgets to stay within the provincial ceilings on spending Solid planning He said the solid planning In the early days of the Halton Board made It possible for the board to continue then- program without cutting any part of the program or releasing staff Director Jim Singleton said the assessment is increasing faster than the student papulation That will work In the board s favor for the few years But It is unlikely the board will be able to reduce the mill in the future Tougher next year suggested the board wo ild be in Rood car while it would be even tougher for some boards The following table shows levies and mill rates applicable to each municipality Cumulative change Public Secondary In mills in mills Total Acton 372 Burl 6 BIS G town 1097 931 144 2 Milton 397 Oak County Total 16 137 107 44 another He thought a well mapped out plan should be furnished so we could make what we have a showpiece Mayor Duby called on the people there to keep in mind that if the town grows to 10000 or- 12 people they could get things which ore out of reach now because of limited assessment and population He said Immediate expansion is needed suggesting annexation of 1 acres would provide the neces sary Ingredient to attract assessment Hank felt swimming facilities on Fairy Lake could be Improved which would do away with the need for a swimming pool The chairman asked the meeting toconsider also how they would raise or 00 suggesting donations of 100 from towns wage earners and donations from business and Industry would provide a huge chunk that could be supple- minted with entertainment proceeds from which would go into a central pot Payroll deduction The only way is through payroll deductions said Paul Nielsen and people would have to give until it hurt ir they wonted something worthwhile supplemented by donations from corporations and business Wo have to have the proper spirit agreed Vic Bristow recalling he has read In a Lions Club magazine of a community half Acton size raising with willingness and desire Bill Colbeck noted his wife and hi were from Grand Valley a community of BOO people which raised enough in five years to compeltely pay for a spanking There s no doubt In mind if we decide to do it we can do it agreed chairman Carpenter He noted earlier the commission was a nickel and dime outfit with a paltry in the bank but this would grow tremendously If the public can be imbued with the proper centennial spirit and use all the means at their disposal to raise funds Candidates signs and ballot filled the school auditorium well known Act bus ncssman past councillor and warden bank heavily on his municipal experience He was nominated by Rev Andrew McKcniie of Acton and Allan Day of Oakville alio a former warden of the county Each of the three candidates charged the Liberal government with adopting poor economic policies using the working man to combat inflation and taking an inhuman approach to the problems confronting the nation reviewed his experience at the municipal level serving Conlln on Page An Acton Acton JOHN ACTON of Breckenndge Michigan birthday bash with several other US checks a map to make sure be s in the right visitors and wondered how Acton got its place He visited with Mr and Mrs name Breckenndge Michigan has lots of Churchill Road S on the weekend for a Actons he told the Free Press Staff Photo HK Porter sells Disston Canada An Acton company Canada Ltd formerly a division of K Porter Canada Ltd is now a subsidiary of a separate independent company The assets of the company were purchased by Porter in exchange for Disston stock which has been sold pubucly President of the newly formed WITH SIGNS CROSSED Terry O Connors Progressive Conservative nomination at A company is John also sister Shelagh OConnor and his sisterinlaw Blakelock High School in Oakville last president of Thomas Heather form an honor guard for Mm at the Wednesday Staff Photo Shields of Acton is Ltd Headquarters of the company will be located Acton Moved here in The Disston plant which specializes in making saws of all types industrial saw blades machine knives and trowels and building utensils moved to Acton from Toronto in It was first known as the Henry Co being located in Toronto since 1904 The sale to Inc severs years of operation as a sub sidiary of H Porter In a letter to employees vice- president and general manager Tom Shields said it was a major step forward for the company and was done in full anticipation of brighter tomorrows for all Application will be made for to be listed with the New York Stock Exchange Disston has a branch plant in Vancouver as well as the Acton plant YOURE NEVER too young to start a modelling career Stephanie Calver 10 months donned a suit and ac companied mother down the able it Osprutge Knox Presbyterian Church fashion show In school last Wednesday night The show was the first of the spring season in this area Turn inside for story and another peek at spring fashions Staff Photo